Annals of lower Deeside; being a topographical, proprietary, ecclesiastical, and antiquarian history of Durris, Drumoak, and Culter

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ANNALS OF LOWER DEESIDE

ANNALS

OF

LOWER DEESIDE

BEING A

TOPOGRAPHICAL, PROPRIETARY

ECCLESIASTICAL, AND ANTIQUARIAN

HISTORY OF

purris, X>tumoak, anb Oultet

JOHN A. HENDERSON

Author of " The History of Banchory-Devenick"

ABERDEEN : D. WVLLIE & SON
1892

-DA

INTRODUCTION.

The history of the larger number of our Scottish
parishes has not hitherto received the attention its
importance deserves. There is abundant material of
great value awaiting collection which is of more than
parochial or local interest. In course of time many
of the documents and traditions which are now avail-
able will be lost or forgotten, and with them will
pass away the record of much that not only has a
charm for the antiquarian, but no little interest and
value both for the historian of our country, and for
the delineator of the character and manners of our
countrymen in the days of old.

These considerations, together with a liking for
the subject, have induced the author to prepare and
submit to the public the (oWowing A mia/s of Loiver
Deeside, embracing the parishes of Durris, Drumoak,
andCulter, It is hoped that, while material exists,
others of antiquarian taste, with greater ability and
more time at their disposal, may enter this interest-
ing field of research, and give to the country the
benefit of their investigations.

In consequence of the scarcity of published
matter bearing upon the district treated of, the

593379

EHGLISH LOCAL

viii Introduction.

writer has had to rely for information chiefly upon
the title deeds and charters of estates, manuscripts,
legal prints, and Presbytery and Kirk Session
records, all of which were ungrudgingly placed at
his disposal on application, and many extracts from
which now appear for the first time. Where ma-
terial has been taken from published works, it has
invariably been acknowledged, and references have
been given.

The Kirk Session records of these parishes ex-
tend to twenty-nine large volumes, the examination
of which alone is no slight task ; but they throw so
much light upon the old forms of ecclesiastical dis-
cipline, and the habits and state of the people of
the last two centuries, that the labour has been
amply repaid by the results obtained.

Readers of exclusively antiquarian taste may
be inclined to think that the transactions of The
Marycidter Club, which are here published for the
first time, scarcely harmonize with the general
character and aim of the work, but the extracts
disclose such a striking contrast between the social
state of half a century ago and that of to-day, that
they may not prove uninteresting to the general
reader. Antiquarian students may also bear in
mind that these extracts are of an interest that will
increase with the passage of years, for future

Introduction. ix

writers of parochial history will no doubt regard
them as important helps in the description of local
social life in an age that will stand in a more
antique relation to them than it does to us.

In addition to the acknowledgments made \x\
the body of the work, cordial thanks are tendered
to the many gentlemen who have kindly given
access to their title deeds and other documents, to
Kirk Sessions for their ready permission to use
their records, and specially to the Rev. William
Lawrence, M.A., minister of Banchory-Devenick,
for revising the proof sheets as the work passed
through the press.

The greatest care has been exercised to ensure
perfect accuracy in all dates and statements, so that
the work might be authoritative in its own depart-
ment ; and the author expresses the hope that the
pleasure of readers in perusing the book may be as
great as his in preparing it.

JOHN A. HENDERSON.

AvoNDALE, Cults,

Aberdeen, March, i8g2.

CONTENTS.

PARISH OF DURRIS.

Page
DURRIS, --.--..,

Originally a hunting forest, i. In the possession
of the Cumin P'aniily, i. Succession of the
Eraser Family and notices regarding their des-
cendants, 2-14. Bought by Anthony Mactier,
14. Bought by Dr. James Young, 15. Bought
by Henry Robert Baird, 16. Description of
Mansion House and Policies, 16, 17. Anti-
quarian finds and traditional lore, 18-21.

HOGGS OF BLAIRYDRINE, - - - - 22

Notices of the Family and descendants, 22-24.

PARISH CHURCH, ----- . 25
Early history, 25-27. Description of Communion
Utensils, 28. Notices of Ministers, 28-32. Ex-
tracts from Ecclesiastical Records, 32-34.

PARISH OF DRUMOAK.

DRUMOAK, ------ 35

Boundaries, &c., 35. Antiquities, 36. Super-
stitious Customs, 37. Case of Body-snatching,
38-42.

xii Contents.

Page
ESTATE OF DRUM, ----- 43

Originally a Hunting Poorest, 43. Wauchopes of
Culter Royal Foresters, 43. Bestowed by Robert
-the Bruce upon William de Irwine or Irvine, 43.
Notices regarding the Irvine Family, 44-63. Des-
cription of Castle, 63-65.

ESTATE OF LEYS, - - - - - - 65

Early Notices of the Family of Burnett, 65, 66.
Made Foresters of Drum, 66. Lands made into
the Barony of Leys, 67. Notices of the Family,
67-69. Description of Crathes Castle, 69, 70.
Extracts from Barony Court Book, 70-73.

ESTATE OF PARK, - - - - - - 73

Park reserved by Robert I., and subsequently
granted to AValter Moigne, thereafter to Alex-
ander Irvine, and afterwards to Patrick Duff,

73. Notices respecting subsequent Proprietors,

74, 75-

PARISH CHURCH, - - - - - - 75

Notices respecting titular Saint, 75, 76. Church
Confirmed to See of Aberdeen, 76. History of
the Parish Churches, 77-82. Notices of Minis-
ters, 82-89. Extracts from Kirk Session Re-
cords, 89-106.

PARISH OF PETERCULTER.

PETERCULTER, - - - - - - 107

Early History, 107. Notices regarding Pre-
historic Remains and Antiquities, 108-110.
Legends, &c., 110-115.

Contents. xiii

Page

ESTATE OF CULTER, - - - - - 115
Owned by Alan the Durward, 115. Succession
of the Cumin Family and notices regarding
them, 1 16-120. Succession of the Duffs, and
notices respecting them, 120-124.

DRUM PROPERTY, - - - - - - 125

Notices regarding Anguston, Kennerty, Linn, and
Leuchar, 125, 126.

ESTATE OF COUNTESSWELLS, - - - 126
Early notices regarding Countesswells, Gardin,
and Brutherfield, 126. Acquired by John
Leith, 126. Succession of the Burnetts, there-
after of the Sandilands, 127. Property bought
by Alexander Livingston, thereafter by James
Burnett, 128. Bought by James Gammell, 129.

CULTER PAPER WORKS, - - - - 129
Origin of Works, 129. Changes of Proprietors,
&c., 130.

SCHOOLMASTERS, - - - - - - 131

William Forbes, author of "The Dominie Depos'd,"
132. Selections from the Poem, 134. George
Skene Keith, 135.

PARISH CHURCH, - - - - - - 135

Description of Communion Utensils, &:c., 136,

Notices regarding Ministers, 137-144. Extracts
from Session Records, 145-15 1.

xiv Contents.

PARISH OF MARYCULTER.

Page

MARYCULTER, - - - - - - 152

Origin of Parish, 152. History of the Knights
Templars and Knights Hospitallers, and their
connection with it, 152-165. Notices regarding
Graveyards, 165. Legend regarding Godfrey
Wedderburn, 167-176,

ESTATE OF MARYCULTER, - - - 176

Notices regarding the Estate and Fishings, 176.
Erected into a Barony, 177. Acquired by the
Menzies Family, 177. Bought by the Gordons
of Fyvie, 177.

ESTATE OF ALTRIES, 179

Notices regarding the Property and its Proprie-
tors— the Kinloch Family, 179, 180.

ESTATE OF KINGCAUSIE, - - - -180
Acquired by the Irvine Family, 180. Succession
of the Boswell Family, 182.

ESTATE OF BLAIRS, - - - - - 184
Acquired by Gilbert Menzies of Findon, 184.
Notices regarding the Menzies Family, 186-189.
Notices respecting Books and Paintings, 189-195.
Notices regarding the College, 195.

ESTATE OF AUCHLUNIES, - - - - 195
Acquired by the Family of Collinson or Collison,
196. Acquired by James Brand, merchant,
Cullen, thereafter by Patrick Souper, 199. No-
tices regarding subsequent Proprietors, 200-201.

Contents. xv

ESTATE OF HEATHCOT, - - - - 2?i

Sold off Auchlunies to Thomas Gordon of Prem-
nay, 201. Succession of Lady Mary Banner-
man, 201. Notices regarding subsequent Pro-
prietors, &:c., 201-203,

PARISH CHURCH, ------ 203

Early Notices regarding the Old Church, 203-206.
Description of the New Church and its Pulpit,
Windows, and Communion Plate, 206. Notices
respecting Ministers, 206-210. Notices regard-
ing Session Records, 211, 212.

*

MARYCULTER CLUB, - - - - - 212
Notices regarding Origin and Rules, 212-216.
List of Members with their Club Titles, 216-
219. Extract Minutes, 220-247.

POPULATION STATISTICS, - - - - 248

ANNALS OF LOWER DEESIDE.

DURRIS.

DURRIS, or Dores, in early times was a
hunting forest, with a castle or hunting
seat of considerable strength. It was occupied for
a time by Alexander III., and the earliest mention
of it occurs in the Clianiherlain Rolls of that period,
when certain sums of money were paid for repairs
and alterations of the vessels and bridge at the
house of Durris. Whether the bridge was of wood
or stone is not recorded, but the connection in
which it is mentioned suggests the probability of
its having been a drawbridge for the castle, which
would appear to have been moated.

When Edward I. overran Scotland, and had

almost the whole of it in subjection, he gave the

keepership of the forest of Durris to his faithful

allies the Cumin family, for in the mandate of

B

2 Durris.

Edward, in 1292, the Earl of Buchan is mentioned
as holding that office.^ In July, 1296, the English
King, in the course of his march through Scotland,
visited the castle, where certain of the barons of the
district paid him homage.

The downfall of the Cumin family, during the
reign of Robert the Bruce, led, not only to the
forfeiture of the various offices held by them, but
also to the confiscation of the greater portions of
their extensive properties, and it is upon record in
Robertson's hidex of Scottish Charters^ that Durris
was in the hands of the Crown in 1308.

Many writers and eminent antiquarians have
fallen into the mistake of supposing that Sir
Alexander Eraser, who married the sister of Robert
the Bruce, and who acted as Lord Chamberlain of
Scotland during the greater part of the reign of
that King, was the first proprietor of Durris.
A minute examination of the various authorities
shews that the first owner, who had a direct grant
from the Crown, was William Eraser, second son of
Sir Alexander Eraser the Chamberlain. He
married Margaret Moray, daughter of Sir Andrew
Moray of Bothwell, and the title of his charter from
David II. runs thus: — "To William Eraser, and
Margaret Murray, his spouse, of the thanedom of
Durris and thanedom of Collie [Cowie], whilk
thanedom of Collie was Alexander Eraser's, his
father, with the lands of Eskyltuh, Essintuly, in

1. Rotuli Sco'.ioe, I. p. 10.

2. Robertson's Index, p. 68, No. 8.

Durtis. 3

Kincardine."^ From this it is manifest that, although
Cowie had belonged to Sir Alexander Fraser
the Chamberlain, Durris did not do so, and no
mention of it occurs in the list of the many
possessions of that Knight.

William Fraser's career was an eventful one.
Associating himself with his father-in-law, the
brave Sir Andrew Moray, Sir William Douglas, and
the other Scottish leaders who maintained the
struggle against English domination, he took part
in the various engagements and exploits which
culminated in the surprise and capture of
Edinburgh Castle in April, 1341.-

Six weeks later, King David, with his Queen,
returned from France and landed at Inverbervie.^
Soon after his arrival he is said to have held his
Court at Perth, and there to have bestowed lands
and other rewards upon those who had signalized
themselves in his cause and service, or whose
parents had lost their lives at Dupplin, Halidon
Hill, or in the other conflicts which had taken
place during the preceding decade,-*

William Fraser, whose claims under these
categories were so conspicuous (his father Sir
Alexander Fraser was killed at the battle of
Dupplin), obtained a grant of the thanages of
Durris and Cowie as before mentioned, but

1. Robertson's Index, p. 60, No. 14.

2. Fordun, Gesta Annalia, cap. clx.

3. Ibid.

4. Frasers of Philorth, I., p. 100.

4 Durris.

unfortunately the charter by which these pos-
sessions were conferred is no longer extant, the
title of it in Robertson's Index being all that
remains.^ It is believed that from the hand of his
Sovereign he at the same time received the honour
of knighthood, to which rank his title in a charter
to one of his sons, and in the notice of his death
shows that he attained. In all likelihood he served
in the earlier expeditions of David II. into the
Northern Counties of England, at least he took
part in the disastrous campaign of 1346, which
ended in the defeat of the Scotch at Durham, in
which battle he was slain. ^ His widow survived
for many years, for, fourteen years later, an entry
in the Chamberlain Rolls shews her in receipt of a
pension from the lands of the thanage of Cowie.^

Sir William Fraser left two sons : — Alexander
who succeeded him in Cowie and Durris, and John
who, in 1373, had a charter from Robert II. of the
land of Wester Essyntuly, which formerly belonged
to John de Dalgarnock, and had been resigned by
him into the hands of the King, to be held of the
King by the said John Fraser and his heirs for
payment of one silver penny yearly, in name of
blench farm, at the Castle-hill of Durris.*

The prematui-e death of Sir William Fraser left
his sons in minority, and the thanages of Cowie and

1. Robertson's Index, p. 60, No. 14.

2. Scotichronicon, lib. XIV., cap. iii.

3. Chamberlain Rolls, I., p. 280.

4. Reg. Mag. Sig., Roll II., No. 17.

Durris. 5

Durris were in the hands of the Crown, in ward, as
the hereditary estates of the eldest son, Alexander,
till he attained majority. He appears to have been
in full possession in 1 367, and two years later
David II. granted him the whole royal lands of the
thanage of Durris, erecting them into a free barony,
to be held from the Crown by him and his heirs for
three attendances each year at the Head Court of
the Sheriffdom of Kincardine, and the service of an
archer in the royal army.^ He must have been
ennobled about the same time, for, though not
styled ^^ Miles" in the charter of Durris, he bore
that rank in the following year but one, at the
coronation of Robert II. He was also appointed
Sheriff of Aberdeen, in which capacity his name
appears in the Chajnberlain Rolls of 1369,^ when
Philip de Dunbreck made a payment as his
lieutenant in that office which he held till 1399.

On the 26th of March, 1371, he was one of the
barons who attended the coronation of Robert II.,
and on the following day did homage to the King
and affirmed in Parliament the order of the
succession to the Crown. Ten years later he
attended another Parliament, when a second and
more precise settlement of the succession was
enacted.^

In 1375 he married Johanna, younger daughter
of William, Earl of Ross, and, in June of the same

1. Reg. Mag. Sig., Lib. I., No. 229.

2. Chamberlain Rolls I., p. 506.

3. Acts of Parliament, I., pp. 181, 185.

6 Durris.

year, Sir Walter de Leslie, Dominus de Ross, who
had married the elder daughter, granted him a
charter to about fifteen estates, which comprised
portions of the parishes of Fraserburgh, Rathen,
Pitsligo, Aberdour, Tyrie, and Strichen. These
lands constituted the lordship of Philorth, from
which he afterwards took his title. In the
following year he granted to his brother John, who,
as before stated, had acquired Wester Essintuly,
the lands of Auchinshogill, Plady, Loncardy,^ and
others which formed part of the Philorth property.

In 1387-8 John was designed of Forglen, which
had come into his possession by a grant from the
Abbot of Arbroath. 2

The estates bestowed by Sir Alexander Fraser
were unquestionably part of those he had acquired
through his marriage, and it seems for some years
to have been doubtful how far it was in his power
to dispose of such property, for in 1385 he gave to
his brother John a letter of obligation, to the effect
that he should have the whole lands of the barony
of Durris in compensation, if by any legal process
he should be ejected from the lands that he had
granted to him. No such eviction, however,
occurred, and John Fraser retained these estates,
which, by the terms of the charter of 1 376, were to
be held by him and his heirs as feudatories of Sir
Alexander and his successors, for the delivery of a

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff , I., p. 470.

2. Ibid, p. 511.

Durris. 7

pair of gilt spurs at the manor place of Philorth
on each feast of Pentecost.^

In 1388 Sir Alexander Fraser accompanied the
heroic James, second Earl of Douglas, on his
expedition into Northumberland, and was present
at the battle of Otterburn, at which the latter was
slain.

Lady Johanna Ross died before 1400, as in that
year a second wife appears upon the scene, in the
person of Elizabeth de Hamilton, who is under-
stood to have been of the family of Cadzow,
ancestors of the ducal house of Hamilton. On the
20th of September, of the year mentioned, Sir
Alexander Fraser, with the consent of the said
Elizabeth de Hamilton, granted a charter to his
son, Alexander Fraser, of " all the lands of the
two Kynclonyes, of Balcharn, and of Balfuthachy,
with their pertinents in the barony of Durrys,"- to
be held under himself and Elizabeth de Hamilton
or the survivor, and under the heirs of the second
marriage ; but, failing such heirs, he granted him
the whole barony of Durris. In the confirmation
of that charter by Robert III. in the same year,^
and also in a second confirmation of it by James I.,*
the Alexander Fraser to whom it was granted is
called the natural son {^filio yiaturalt) of his father,
the granter, but the charter itself does not contain

1. Frasersof Philorth, I., p. 116.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 362.

3. Ibid, p. 362.

4. Ibid, p. 365.

8 Durris.

that expression, and was given " Alexandra Fraser,
filio meo dilecto."'^

As there was no issue of the second marriage,
this Alexander Fraser obtained the whole lands of
the barony, in terms of the charter, and was the
first to take his distinctive title from the estate of
Durris. '

Sir Alexander Fraser of Durris, and the first of
Philorth, died in or before 141 1, as, in October of
that year, William, his only son by the first
marriage, appears as Dominus de Philorth, arid in
possession of the family estates. In 1404 he
married Eleanor Douglas, of the Earl of Douglas's
family, who had a pension granted her by the
Countess of Mar and the Garioch.^ Within the
next year he received the honour of knighthood,
and doubtless had considerable influence in the
North. Whether he was implicated in the
rebellion of Donald, Lord of the Isles, which
ended abruptly in the battle of Harlaw in 141 1,
cannot be accurately stated, but it is significant
that in October of that year he sold certain lands
to Lord Forbes; that two years later he was obliged
to make a further sacrifice of his estates ; and that
on the loth October, 141 3, he agreed to sell the.
whole lands of Cowie and Durris (reserving the
life-rent interest of his stepmother, Lady Elizabeth
de Hamilton, who was infeft in them) " for

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 362.

2. Ibid, p. 576.

Durris. g

euirmare " to William de Hay, Lord of Errol and
Constable of Scotland, for " a soume of sylure "
before-hand in his " mykle mistre" [great necessity]
to him " payit."^

This last transaction is somewhat perplexing ;
for if, as before stated, the lands of Durris had
effectually passed to the natural son, Alexander
Fraser, it is difficult to explain how William Fraser
of Philorth could have had any patrimonial interest
in them. Prior and subsequent charters, however,
as well as the fact that in the Crown charter,
granted to Errol two years afterwards, Durris is
excluded, give ground for the conclusion that his
title to that property was bad. It may be that
the legal rights of Alexander Fraser were not
operative till the death of Lady Hamilton, and,
as she survived her husband for several years,
William Fraser may have taken advantage of
this to endeavour to usurp his kinsman's possession.

In 1430 James I. confirmed a charter of the
lands to Alexander Fraser, who is believed to have
been succeeded by a son, also named Alexander,
as in 149I Sasine was granted in favour of William
Fraser, who is designed as son and heir of
Alexander Fraser, his father, in the lordship of
Durris.

Three years later the Bishop of Brechin raised
an action before the Lords of Council, setting
forth that "William Fresale" withheld from him

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff', III, p. 364.

lO Durris.

and the Kirk of Brechin " the secund teynd of
his relief of the lands of Durris," which was claimed
as belonging to that Bishopric.^

In 1527 a bond of manrent was granted by
William Fraser of Ouchterdurris, son and heir of
William Fraser of Durris, to Sir Alexander Irvine
of Drum, and to Alexander Irvine of Forglen, his
son and heir."

In 1609 the proprietor seems to have been on
bad terms with his neighbours, the Hoggs of
Blairydrine, for in June of that year Hogg com-
plained to the Privy Council that " Fraser and
others to the number of fifty all armed lay in wait
on purpose to slay him." Not getting the legal
satisfaction expected, Hogg, in the following
month, accompanied by several dependants and
friends, went to the house in Aberdeen in which
the Frasers were residing, " and pressed violently
to enter therein," which they would have succeeded
in doing had they not " been stayed by some good
people." On the following day the Frasers, in
passing to Old Aberdeen, were followed by the
same band "with drawn swords and with bent
hagbuts and pistolletes," but mischief was prevented
through the pursuers being "stopped by the
magistrates at the port."^

In 1 61 5- 16 Alexander Fraser, then laird, and
his son, Robert, acquired from Sir Alexander Fraser,

1. Acta. Dom. Con., p. 355

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 306.

3. Privy Council Register, VIII., pp. 332-3

Durris. 1 1

eighth Lord of Philorth, the lands of Cairnbulg
and Invernorth, which formed portions of the
original lordship of Philorth,^ but shortly after-
wards, the purchasers, who appear to have got into
embarrassed circumstances, sold these possessions to
Andrew Fraser of Muchal, in contravention of the
conditions under which they had been acquired.
Before the middle of the seventeenth century Durris
also had passed into the hands of the representative
of the Muchal family, who had been raised to the
rank of " Lord Fraser." -

During the wars of the Covenanters, Forbes of
Leslie, whom Spalding describes as a "gryte
Covenanter," occupied the Castle of Durris, and,
fearing that his house might be plundered by the
Royalists, he had part of his effects hidden or
carried away to a place of greater security. As
anticipated, the castle was soon afterwards attacked
by the Gordons, who, in the absence of better fare,
" &^t good beir and aill, bruk wp girnellis and book
[baked] bannokis at good fyres, and drank mirrellie
vpone the lairdis best drink, syne careit away
v/ith thame alss mekill victuall as thay could beir,
quhilk they culd not get eitin and distroyit."'^
This was in 1639. Five '^years later the place was
again visited by the soldiery, at the instance of
Robert Irving, for the purpose of preventing the
capture and removal of the " girnellis," which,

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, II., p. 58.

2. Frasers of Philorth, II., p. 144.

3. Spalding's Trubles, I., p. 188.

^^.

12 Durris.

as they contained "auchtein scoir bolHs," would
have tested the strength as well as stimulated the
cupidity of the attacking party. Ten soldiers
were left in charge, who seem to have been quite
comfortable, having had ample " nolt and scheip
and vther commodeties." But it was upon Sunday,
17th March, 1645, that Durris suffered most
severely, for the Marquis of Montrose, then on his
march southward, plundering and burning the
lands and houses of such of the Covenanters as lay
in his route, set fire to " the place, lauche bigging,
and haill cornes, and spolzeit the haill ground [of
Durris] ofhorss, nolt, scheip, and vther goodis."^

In 1669 Sir Alexander Fraser, a descendant of
the old family of Fraser, had a charter of con-
firmation of Durris, upon the resignation of Lord
Fraser before mentioned. Sir Alexander was
educated at Aberdeen, and, qualifying as a Doctor,
became the physician and one of the favourites of
Charles II.- He acted as guide to that King in
his expedition to Scotland in 1650, but on the 27th
September of that year he, and several others
described as " profaine, scandalous, malignant, and
disaffected persons," were ordered by the Com-
mittee of Estates to remove from the Court, within
twenty-four hours, under pain of imprisonment.^

Having amassed considerable wealth he was
enabled to purchase the estate of Durris from

1. Spalding's Trubles, II., p. 458.

2. Memoirs of the Duffs, p. 140.

3. Anderson's Scottish Nation, II., p. 266.

Durris. 1 3

Lord Fraser. He was much attached to the
district, the air of which " he was wont to compare
to that of Windsor, then reckoned the finest in
England." He was twice married, and by his first
wife, EHzabeth Dochty, had two sons and a
daughter. The younger of his sons, Charles,
translated Plutarch's Lives, and is supposed to have
been the author of The Turkish Spy.^ By his
second wife, Mary Carey, he had a son and a
daughter, the former of whom became Sir Peter
Fraser, and was the last Fraser of Durris.

By formal deed, dated 15th March, 1754, Sir
Peter Eraser's widow, then designed as " Dame
Ann Fraiser alias Heron," mortified twelve hundred
pounds to be applied as follows: — One hundred
pounds to the Kirk Session of Durris on behalf of
the poor ; Fifty pounds to the Kirk Session of
Strachan for a like object ; Four hundred pounds to
the Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen ; One hundred
pounds to the Managers of St. Paul's Chapel ;
Five hundred pounds to eight decayed gentlewomen
of Aberdeen ; and Fifty pounds to poor house-
holders of Aberdeen. By the same deed she
altered the conditions of a legacy bequeathed under
a previous settlement to Lady Henrietta Gordon,
in respect that. Lady Henrietta having gone into a
Popish monastery, there was risk of the money
being " applied to superstitious uses."

Sir Peter Eraser's daughter and heiress, Carey,

I. Memorials Angus and Mearns, I., p. 162.

14 Durris.

a maid of honour to Catherine, Queen of Charles
II., married the celebrated general, Charles Mor-
daunt, Earl of Peterborough and Monmouth, by
whom she had an only daughter, Henrietta Mor-
daunt, who became the wife of Alexander, second
Duke of Gordon ; and by this means the estate of
Durris eventually passed to that ducal house. ^

Immediately on the estate becoming the patri-
mony of the Gordon family, extensive improve-
ments were inaugurated, and have been continued
ever since. The wife of the second Duke of
Gordon was noted for her intellectual vigour and
activity, and it was largely through her influence
that an improved mode of husbandry was intro-
duced into the district, and a great deal of plant-
ing was undertaken.

In the end of last century the estate was
held under a long lease by John Innes of Leuchars,
near Elgin, who was for many years sheriff-substi-
tute of Kincardineshire, and died loth May, 1852,
in his eightieth year. He was the father of the
well-known literary antiquary and Professor of
History in the University of Edinburgh, Cosmo
Innes, who was born at Durris House.

On the entail of the estate being transferred,
under an Act of Parliament, to property in the im-
mediate neighbourhood of Gordon Castle, Durris
was sold in 1834 to Anthony Mactier, who was for
some time a successful merchant in Madras. He

I. Memorials Angus and Mearns, I., p. 162.

Durris. 1 5

married Maria, daughter of Alexander Binny of
St. Andrews, and died on 5th August, 1854, aged
eighty-one. His son, Alexander, who succeeded,
sold the estate in 1871 to Dr. James Young of
Kelly, paraffin oil manufacturer, for the sum of
Three hundred thousand pounds.

Dr. Young was entirely a self-made man.
Being born of parents in the humble ranks of life,
his education had no attention, and while little
more than a child he was apprenticed to the joinery
trade in his native city of Glasgow. While yet a
boy he became interested in the study of chemistry,
and, when his slender means permitted, attended
the chemical classes in the Andersonian University,
which were then under the charge of Thomas
Graham, who afterwards became Professor of
Chemistry in the London University, and sub-
sequently Master of the Mint. When Graham
removed to London he carried his pupil along with
him as his class-assistant. Some years were spent
by Young in the laboratory of the London
University, and he then removed to Liverpool,
where he assumed the post of manager of certain
chemical works. From Liverpool he migrated to
Manchester as one of the chiefs of departments in
the branch there of the St. Rollox works. When
he quitted this situation, it was to proceed to
Derbyshire for the purpose of working a petroleum
spring, and of conducting certain experiments in
the manufacture of artificial oil. These, in 1851,
were crowned by complete success in the discovery

1 6 Diirris.

of paraffin, which has made the name of Young
famous throughout the civilized world. From this,
and subsequent discov^eries, he became the possessor
of great wealth, and was thereby enabled to
purchase the estates of Kelly and Durris. He
continued his chemical studies to the last, and
did much to encourage the advancement of the
science of chemistry. His bequests to the An-
dersonian University, and the almost romantic in-
terest which he took in Dr. Livingstone, are well
known. He died at an advanced age on 1 3th May,
1883.

In 1890 the property was acquired, through
private purchase, by Henry Robert Baird, son of
the late William Baird of Elie, in Fifeshire.

The mansion house, which is built entirely of
granite, is partly old and partly modern. The date
of the oldest portion cannot be ascertained with
certainty, but it possibly is the whole, or a part, of a
mansion which had been built after the burning of
the castle by Montrose in 1645, as before described.
The first portion of the modern house bears the
date of 1824, and extensive additions were made to
it between the years 1835 and 1838. The oldest
portion is in the Scottish baronial style of
architecture, and is connected with the new part by
a spacious interjecting wing. This new part
consists of a substantial square block, with a
massive and lofty portico, and is surrounded by
a low wall with ornamental iron railing. The
mansion occupies a picturesque position over-

Durris. 1 7

looking a precipitous bank of Durris dell, and
commands an excellent view.

It seems probable that the site of the old
castle was at a distance from the present mansion
house, and on an eminence near the river, which
for many centuries has been known as "the
Castle Hill."

The policies, which extend to upwards of two
hundred acres, have been laid out with great taste,
and at much expense. The shrubs and ornamental
trees are such as to at once attract the attention,
and command the admiration even of those who
are familiar with the grounds of some of the finest
residential seats in the country.

The shootings and fishings are very valuable,
and in connection with the latter it may be stated
that a salmon hatchery has been erected, where
upwards of eight hundred thousand fry are now
annually hatched.

Upon the Castle Hill, close to the river and near
to the bridge of Park, stands an octagonal tower,
about eighty feet high, which was erected in 1825
by the Duke of Gordon, to commemorate his
coming into possession of the estate as the heir of
entail to the Earl of Peterborough after protracted
litigation.

Till well into the present century, educational
matters in the parish seem to have received little
attention. At a visitation by the Presbytery on
20th June, 1677, it was reported "that as yet they
hade not a schoolmaster, but were to have one
C

l8 Durris.

shortlie, and that the setled maintinance was four
bolhs meall from the heritors and two peackis meall
payable by everie tennant possessor of a pleugh of
land within the parochin."^ As recently as 1807,
when the population numbered upwards of seven
hundred, only twenty scholars were in attendance,
fifteen of whom took English only, five Writing
and Arithmetic, and two Latin.

The parish is somewhat meagre both in
antiquarian remains and in traditional lore. There
are, however, several tumuli or cairns of stones
partly overgrown with heather and whins. ^ Others
have entirely disappeared through the agricultural
improvements of the present century. About 1832,
a farmer, in trenching out the foundation of some
old houses and dykes on his farm, found a number
of small copper and silver coins, but none of them
in a good state of preservation. From their general
appearance they were supposed to be Danish. ^
About 1 84 1, during the removal of stones for
building purposes, several copper coins were found
on the surface of the ground on Cairnmonearn.
They were of the size and thickness of wafers, and
appeared to be Scots pennies of the reign of Mary
and Francis ; having a compound F and M on one
side, with a lion rampant and crown upon the other,
and the motto Veritas Vicit, " truth hath con-

1. Presbytery Records.

2. Statistical Account of Kincardineshire, p. 172.

3. Ibid.

Durris. 19

quered."^ At the 'Spital Croft, a reputed seat of
the Knights Templars,* lying to the south-east
of the church, an old bronze pot was found some
years ago, which, during Dr. Young's proprietorship,
was carefully preserved at Durris House. It held
about half-a-gallon, and was similar in form to the
old-fashioned broth or kail pot of Scotland, having
three feet to rest upon, and two ears for fixing the
bow or handle to.^

After the great flood of 1829, the minister, the
Rev. Robert Copland, in removing a cairn by the
side of the Dee, came upon some bones, partly
charred, and a number of sharp flint stones of
different sizes. Subsequently, at a depth of about
three feet, there was discovered a large trench, or
grave, upwards of seven feet long, built with stones
on the sides, and covered with three very large
blocks. It contained human bones mixed with
charcoal, and it was observed that part of a skull,
contrary to the usual mode of interment, was
placed at the east end of the grave.

In the " Proceedings of the Society of Anti-
quaries of Scotland" for the year 1880, it is stated

1. AndtTSoxUs Black Book of Kincardineshire.

2. Memorials, Angus and Mearns, i., p. 163.

*The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem had a settlement at " the
Castletoune of Durris," and in 1540 Sir Walter Lyndesay, Lord of
St. John's and Preceptor of Torphichen, granted a charter of the
Templar land there to John Maky, son of William Maky, who had
previously held it. The proprietor of Durris afterwards acquired
the property.

20 Durris.

that : — " On the Garrol farm, in the corner of a
fir wood and near the main road, at the highest
point as it looks towards Strachan, is a stone circle
of sixty feet internal diameter .... Going
down the valley westerly we come to Esslie farm,
South. In the open plain, and in the midst of a
field, is a compound circle of a remarkable
character. It is slightly raised above the average
of the ground, that is, the base appears as if raised

a couple of feet The circle most

prominent is the outer one of three, the smallest
being much dilapidated, and separate from the
other, i.e. not concentric. There is a trace of two
lines of small stones coming from these two
smaller circles and leading to each end of the
lying stone, which is at the south. Outside the
complete circle there is evidence of a fourth, from
one standing-stone remaining." A space of seven
or eight feet having been laid bare, " there were
found certain black marks on the hard ground, and
along with them small pieces of bone. The dark
marks, in some places quite black, extended so as
to be the length of a not tall human being in three
cases ; a fourth was uncertain. There seem to have
been three or four bodies laid so as to form a circle,
within which were no black marks or bones."

The chief tradition of the parish is one regarding
a freebooter, called Red Beard, who is said to have
lived along with his confederates in a cave on the
hill of Craigbeg (now known as Craiglug), where a
spring-well called Red Beard's Well perpetuates

Durris. 21

his title. Beyond his systematic levying of black-
mail, and his dexterity in cattle-lifting, there is
nothing related of him.

" As in most parts of the country superstition
had a firm footing in Durris in olden times ; and,
according to story, it was fostered there by a
pedagogue who played upon the credulity of his
neighbours by occasionally personating his Satanic
Majesty ! On one occasion he appeared among
the rafters of the church at an evening meeting
in the guise of a horned ox, with glaring eyes,
and nearly terrified the people out of their wits.
Mr. Reid, minister of Banchory-Ternan, being in
the locality at the time, was asked to go to the
kirk to lay Satan ; and it is said that, upon seeing
the parson, who was remarkable for strength of
body as well as of mind, ' horney' bawled out : —

' What are you doin' here, Rob Reid,
Wi' your hard heid? '

To which Mr. Reid naively replied : —
' ^Vh ether my heid be hard or saft —
Come you doon,
Or I'll crack your croon'." ^

A person who committed suicide by hanging is
buried in the parish churchyard, but on the north
side of the church, and, agreeably to an ancient be-
lief, that it would be highly improper to take the

I. Jervise's Epitaphs^ I. p. 106.

22 Durris.

corpse of a suicide through the gateway in the
usual way, it was taken over the wall.^

THE HOGGS OF BLAIRYDRINE.

The date when this family settled in the Parish of
Durris is uncertain, but early in the fifteenth cen-
tury they were on terms of intimacy and friendship
with the Keiths of Inverugy and Cowie.

On 20th March, 1478-9, the Lords Auditors
of Causes and Complaints decreed that Andrew
Hogg should possess the lease and tack for life of
the lands of Strabrok, granted to him by Sir
William Keith, and by Sir Gilbert, his son.^

On 23rd June, 1562, "Monane Hog" is designed
as "in Blerdryne, "^ and it is said that he received
a grant of the property through the Earl Marischal,
" for having courteously entertained (when but a
farmer there,) King James V., travelling through
that country in disguise."*

The family speedily took up a prominent
position in the district, for in certain proceedings
which took place before the Privy Council in 1609,
they are thus described " Miniane Hog of Bleri-
dryne, Miniane and Johnne Hogis his son, William

1. Logan's M.S. Notes.

2. Kxi'C\Q^\'C\t% Aberdeen and Banff , tl., p. 401.

3. Ibid, IV., p. 598.

4. Kxi\S!C^\'i\t.% Aberdeen and Banff f I., p. 638.

Hoggs of Blairydrine. 2 3

Hog in Woodend, James Hog in Knappach,
William Hog his son, Archibald Hog in Balbrydie,
and Andrew Hog in Boig."^ These parties had
been on unfriendly terms with Thomas Fraser in
" Pitcowteis," against whom, in February, 1606-7, it
was complained that "on 12th August last, he and
his accomplices armed with jacks, spears, swords,
and gauntlets, and also with hagbuts and pistolets,
came to Hog's dwelling-house of Blarydryne at
night and ' dernit ' themselves all that night about
his house, on purpose to slay him."-

Monan Hog, Junior, married Jean Lindsay, and
it was probably a son who married Ann Douglass,
daughter to John Douglass of Tilwhilly. Certain
it is that the son of the latter couple, James Hogg,
who married " Margaret Skene, the only daughter of
Robert Skene of Raemore," and thus succeeded to
that estate, sold the lands of Blairydrine. He was
born in 1661, and died in 1706, as appears from the
inscription on his tombstone in the churchyard of
Banchory-Ternan, on which are cut the Hogg
armorial bearings impaled with those of Skene.

One of the descendants of the family was Rev.
Dr. James Hogg, of Skene, who died in November,
1823, aged seventy-two years. Another descend-
ant was James Hogg, schoolmaster of Banchory-
Devenick, 1726-71, whose son, George Hogg, was
a merchant in Aberdeen, and afterwards became

1. Privy Council Register, VII., p. 319.

2. Ibid.

24 Dutris.

proprietor of the estate of Shannaburn in Mary-
culter parish. He built a school in Banchory-
Devenick which went by the name oi Hogg's School,
and besides leaving a considerable sum for its
support, he bequeathed One thousand pounds for
educational purposes in Aberdeen.

Another descendant, who had been in very
humble circumstances in early youth, tending cattle
on the hill of Cairnshea, went to London and
entered into mercantile business there. He was
thus enabled, in 1787, to leave to his native parish
of Durris the sum of Five hundred pounds in the
three per cent. Consols, the annual income from
which he directed should be applied thus : — " Five
pounds to the schoolmaster; One pound to the kirk-
session for their trouble in managing the fund ; Ten
shillings to the session-clerk for keeping the books ;
Ten shillings to the herds around the hill of Cairn-
shea, to make a midsummer fire on that hill, and
the balance — about Nine pounds — to poor house-
holders not on the poor's roll."^ The conditions
attaching to this peculiar bequest are still carefully
carried out, the kindling of the bonfire on mid-
summer night affording much amusement to the
youths of the district.

I. Statistical Account of Kincardineshire, p. 177.

Parish Church. 25

PARISH CHURCH.
(St. Conga I, Abbot.)

The Church, which is rated in the Old Taxation at
Ten merks, was for long a rectory in the Diocese of
St. Andrews. 1 After the Reformation it was
attached to the Presbytery of Fordoun ; but in
1 7 1 7 it was annexed to that of Aberdeen, in which
it still is."

The first parish church must have been erected
at a very early period, as it is recorded in the
Minutes of Visitations by the Presbytery of the
Mearns, of date 20th June, 1677, that the fabric was
" under great decay." The minister of the period,
Rev. John Reid, was then instructed to approach
the heritors on the subject, and nine years later it
was reported to the Presbytery " that a new manse
and church had been built by the heritors," and that
the latter was to be maintained by them. Regard-
ing this church, which was superseded by the pre-
sent erection in 1822, an interesting narrative is
given in Logan's MS. Notes on Churc/ies, preserved
in the Advocates' Library, Aberdeen. After a brief
reference to the origin of the name, the author pro-
ceeds : — " The Kirk of Durris is one of the few re-
maining old structures — long and narrow. On two

of the peat stones are the letters

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 104.

2. Presbytery Records.

s

A F

D
VC

26 Durris.

and on another the date 1587, which shows that the
church was either built or repaired by Sir A. Fraser,
to whom the estate belonged. Upon the lintel of
the eastmost window are the words MEMENTO
MORI.

All the windows and doors, square outside, are
circular-headed and splayed inside, except the
small one over the central door. The north wall is
strengthened by massy inclined buttresses, and the
external dimensions are 84 feet by 23. Inside it is
78—3 by 18—3.

The east-end, which is separated from the part
appropriated for worship by a wooden partition,
and is called an aisle, was the burial-place of the
ancient family of Fraser, long the possessors of
Durris. In the north wall is a monument com-
memorating some of these lairds, before which is a
raised pavement. On the wall above are suspended
the remains of a funereal achievement,* formed of
woollen cloth. There is also preserved here part of
the family pew, very well carved.

In each end is a gallery lighted by a gable
window. Access to the western is obtained by a

*A " funeral achievement," or hatchment, was the term applied
to the coat of arms of a deceased person, usually placed on the front
of a house, in a church, or on a hearse at funerals, by which the
fact of the death and the rank of the deceased might be known ;
the whole being distinguished in such a manner as to indicate
whether the deceased person was male or female, married or un-
married, &c. The one here referred to had, in all likelihood,
consisted of the arms of the Frasers of Durris.

. Parish Church. 27

stone stair outside ; to the eastern by a wooden
staircase carried up in the Fraser's aisle.

The church was * pointed ' in 1768, since
which time it has been ' harled.' The belfry with
a harp, perhaps in allusion to the psalmist praising
the Lord with that instrument, is curious.

There is an inscription on the pediment.

An article which was used for holding
the sand-glass is preserved in the church. It is
formed [ ] of iron and has been carefully

tinned."

In 1609 the Elders were " Thomas Fraser of
Durris, Robert Fraser, his brother, Thomas Fraser
in Petcoutenis, James Fraser, Alexander Robertson,
Adam Ramsay, Johne Scrogy, Alexander Myln in
Caladrum, Alexander Myln in Maines of Durris,
Alexander Doiglas in Lochtoun, Alexander
Nauchtie, Archebald Dunbar, Thomas Hoig, Gilbert
Collie, and Thomas Watson." ^

In 1677 it was reported to the Presbytery that
there was no " mortified money belonging to the
church for pious uses," and that the only " utensils
and vessels dedicated for the administration of the
Lord's Supper and Baptism " were " two cups of
tinne, and one basin of tinne."-

In the View of the Diocese of Aberdeen it is
stated that " Durris Church has two silver chalices
and one silver patten, gifted by Mr, Fraser, late

1. Presbytery Records.

2. Register of Visitations,

28 Durris.

Schoolmaster there," These communion utensils,
which are still in use, bear the following inscription: —

GIVEN TO THE CHURCH OF DURRIS BY MR.
THO FRAISER, CHAPLINE AND JUDGE ADVOCAT

ABOARD THE ENGLISH ADMIRALL.

OBIT IN THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTERR YE 1 9 OF

FEBY 1694.

There are also two electro-plated communion
flagons used, bearing the inscription : —

DURRIS, 1879.

As already stated, the present church was
erected in 1822, and was opened for divine service
on 17th November of that year,^ It is seated for
550 worshippers, and is a plain structure, but
pleasantly situated.

The bell bears the inscription : —

lOHN MO WAT. OLD ABD; FE 1765

IN USUM ECCLESI^ DE DURRIS

SABATA PANGO, FUNERA PLANGO

[John Mowat, Old Aberdeen, made me in 1765, for
the use of the church of Durris. Sabbaths I pro-
claim, funerals I toll.]

MINISTERS.

1420. Hugh Wells, Rector. He also acted as
I. Session Records.

Ministers. 29

Vicar of Nigg, but was excommunicated by the
Bishop for seizing, as belonging to his vicarage, the
tithe of fish caught in the river Dee. In 1430, on
acknowledging his fault, he was absolved and re-
instated.^

1480. John Kyd, Vicar. -
1487. William Crychtoune, Vicar. ^
15 13. Alexander Galloway, Prebendary.*
1568. George Fraser, Minister.^ He entered at
Lammas, and held a salary of £Z. 6s. 8d. It is
understood that he was a relative of the Frasers of
Durris.

1574. Archibald Hogg, Minister. He was possibly
a relative of the Hoggs of Blairydrine.*
1595- James Irving or Irvine, son of Alexander
Irving of Beltie, admitted during this year. In
1599, he had " Kinarny " also in charge. '^
1601. Alexander Youngson, translated from
Skene, and admitted this year. The congregation
complained to the Presbytery that he was non-
resident with them, and only came and preached
on alternate Sundays. Of date 15th January, 1602,
he was ordained to " mak his residence at the kirk

1. Macfarlane's Transcript, p. 32.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 361.

3. Ibid.

4. Fasti Aberdonenses, p. 72.

5. Q,d^'tc'(\ox\s,, Aberdeen and Ban^, p. 226.

6. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 104, and Scott's Fasti, "VT., p. 498.

7. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 498.

30 Durris.

at Witsondaye." His stipend was £\\. 2s. 2fd.
sterling.^

1 6 — William Youngson, Minister.
1655. William Reid. He was elected one of
the Ministers of Edinburgh in i662j but declined
acceptance.

1676. John Reid, formerly Schoolmaster of
Banchory-Ternan, appointed successor. He took
an active part in fomenting the rebellion of 171 5,
for which, and for contumac}^, he was deposed in
the following year. He died prior to 2nd April,
1728.2

17 1 7. Robert Melvill, son of the Rev. Francis
Melvill, Minister of Arbuthnott, thereafter one of
the Ministers of Aberdeen, was licensed by the Aber-
deen Presbytery in June, 1716, and was ordained 31st
January following. He acted as Clerk to the
Presbytery, and, in his absence, on 28th February,
1747, the manse was broken into by five notorious
robbers, led by James Davidson,* who carried off

1. Presbytery Records, &c,

2. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 499, and Register of Visitations of

Presbytery.

* The career of this notorious robber, who was a native of
Brechin, deserves notice. While a youth he became a private
soldier, but deserting, joined the rebel army of Prince Charles.
After Culloden he seems to have taken to thieving on an extensive
scale, manses and school-houses receiving a special share of
attention. In the beginning of February, 1747, he and his con-
federates robbed the Manse of Kinnell of Twenty-four pounds, the
Manse of Farnell of Ten pounds and the Minister's watch, and the
House of Kinnaird of silver and other articles to the value of

Ministers. 3 1

many valuable effects, including Session ?nd Pres-
bytery records. For this, and other grave offences,
Davidson was afterwards executed and hung in
chains. Mr. Melvill, who died on 29th May, 1758,
was twice married : — first, to Isabella Fordyce,
daughter of Provost George Fordyce, of Aberdeen,
who died in 17 19, and secondly to Janet Greig,
who died in 1752. Two sons, Francis and John,
were the founders of a great mercantile firm in
Amsterdam.^
1759. Alexander Leslie, son of James Leslie,

I. Dingwall Fordyce, I., p. 1015, Black Calendar of Aberdeen,
Presbytery and Session Records.

Fifteen pounds. These robberies were the work of one night. On
the following day the Manse of Fettercairn was visited, but the
Minister defended it gallantly and for some time kept Davidson a
prisoner, but he was released by his associates, who terminated. the
exploits of the day by burning the school -house. On the 28th of
the same month the Manse of Durris was broken into and every-
thing valuable carried off. The Minister at the time was
unfortunately from home, otherwise the depredators would have
had some trouble with him, as he was a very powerful man. They
next robbed Mr. Harper, the Schoolmaster of Durris, of Thirty-five
pounds. Other thefts followed, in the perpetration of one of which
Davidson was apprehended. The sentence that he should be
"executed and thereafter hung in chains" seems to have been not
uncommon in the case of great robbers. His exploits attracted
much attention at the time, and the "Aberdeen Journal," in
noticing the apprehension, calls him "the famous Mr. Davidson."
It may be of interest to add that one of the volumes stolen out of
Durris Manse was " Ye Presbytrie Buik of Aberdeen begun ye 20
day of October 1598 and continued to 14 June 1610." The book
ultimately fell into the hands of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh,
and was carefully preserved in their Library till June, 1891, when it
was delivered up to its original owners, the Presbytery of Aberdeen.

32 * Durris.

Minister of St. Fergus, licensed by the Presbytery
of Deer, was ordained on 5th April. He was
translated to Fordoun on loth October, 1771, and
died there, 15 th September, 1807, in his 74th
year.i

1772. William Strachan, ordained on 9th April. ^
1823. Robert Copland, ordained by the Pres-
bytery of Fordyce, 22nd July, 18 14, as a Missionary
at Enzie, was inducted at Durris on 30th October.
He died, 3rd July, i860, in his 8ist year.^
1858. James Duirs, ordained assistant and suc-
cessor to Mr. Copland, on 27th July, 1858.
1878. Charles John Watt, ordained assistant and
successor to Mr. Duirs, on nth April. He
was translated to Polwarth in the Presbytery of
Duns, and inducted there on 21st March, 1882.*
1883. Robert Spark, ordained assistant and suc-
cessor to Mr. Duirs, on 1 8th January.^

ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS.

The Session records, which make up five volumes,
and are in the custody of the Session-Clerk, com-
mence in the year 1717, but they contain little but
narratives of discipline, and the business which
ordinarily falls to kirk-sessions to transact. On 20th

1. Separate Register of Presbytery and Session Records.

2. Ibid.

3. Separate Register of Presbytery and Scott's Fasti, VI. p. 499.

4. Separate Register of Presbytery.

5. Ibid.

Ministers. 33

October, 1742, the funds at the disposal of the
Session were so meagre that the Clerk's annual
salary was reduced from Sixteen pounds Scots to
Ten merks. On 4th January, 1784, the collection
amounted to Five pence. The patriotic and war-
like spirit of the parishioners is shown by the entry
of 28th July, 1803 : — "113 men of the parish met
and enrolled themselves to march and oppose the
French should they dare to land on this coast."

While the Session records are thus barren in in-
teresting matter, the Minutes of Presbytery show
that several curious cases had to be dealt with. On
15th January, 161 2, "Alexander Gordon ordained
by the Presbytery under the pain of excommuni-
catione to pay to the collector of the penalties the
soume of fyve merkis for the abuseing of James
Milne within the kirk of Durris, in tyme of divine
service, and furder, to sett down befoir the pulpett
efter the sermone, befoir blessing be endit, and thair
confesse his offense to God and forgivenes of the
said James to ask ; and the said James to humell
himselff on his knees, . . ." On 3rd July, 1607^
it was "statute and ordanit that 'na idill persoun be
sufferrit, bot all be compellit to enter and to abides
in service,' and that the order may be effectual or-
dained ' that nane recept nor interteaine sic, bot
hauld thame odiouss as infidelis, and all breaking
the rule to pay forty shillings of penalty.'" On the
24th September, 1609, on the occasion of the visit
of the Presbytery to Durris, the minister, Mr. Alex-
ander Youngson, " was remowed and censurit," but

D

34 Durris.

was " Weill commendit, both by the ' elderis and
parochineris, praising God for him.' " On the same
occasion, the Presbytery ordained to be put into
execution the acts " aganis contravenaris," . . and
among " the rest aganis sleparis in the kirk in tyme
of diuine seruice."

Dnnnoak. 35

DRUMOAK.

THIS important agricultural parish, which is
situated on the banks of the Dee, measures
on the average four miles in length by two in
breadth. In the end of the last century it was
invariably called Daljnaik,^ and as early as 11 57
it was written Didmayok.- In 1407 it was designed
Drumoak,^ which is now its invariable name.

Agriculture, with certain limitations, has all
along been the chief employment of the inhabitants.
On the subject the writer of the Old Statistical
Account says : — " No wheat sown in the parish,
and but little artificial grasses or turnips. The
crops consist chiefly of barley oats. There are
about two thousand sheep, a great deal of the soil
being fit only for sheep pasture. Oxen are less
employed than formerly. Men servants receive
Five pounds per annum of wages, women about
Two pounds, labourers in husbandry one shilling
per day, or sixpence and their victuals. Peats
chiefly used for fuel. Best arable land rented at
fifteen shillings an acre. Air dry and very
healthy." ■* Within the last sixty years enormous
improvements have been effected, both rn the

1. Old Statistical Account of Scotland, III., p. 315.

2. Chartulary of See of Aberdeen, p. 43.

3. Regist. Capellanorum, p. 66.

4. Statistical Account of Scotland, III., p. 317.

36 Drumoak.

cultivation of the soil and in the raising of crops
and cattle, and, generally speaking, farming may be
said to be as far advanced in this parish as in any
in Aberdeenshire. The light character of the soil,
however, prevents the growing of heavy crops.

The parish is somewhat deficient both in
traditions and in prehistoric remains. Of the
latter the most interesting is the fragment of a
sculptured stone, with the sceptre, mirror and comb
ornaments, which is now erected upon a knoll
within the policies of Park House. Its original
situation was on the west end of the Keith's moor,
not far from the spot where, in times of baronial
jurisdiction, the gallows stood ; but it can scarcely
be supposed to have had any connection with this
circumstance, and must be of a much earlier date
than the defeat of the Keiths by the Irvines, which
gave to the scene of the battle the name of " the
Keith's Muir," The farm in which this part of the
moor was included, went by the name of Gallow-
burn, but it is now called Bakebare. The stone
was removed by workmen, who intended to build
it into the walls of Park House, but the proprietor
happily succeeded in preventing its destruction,
although not its serious defacement. In the Hawk-
hillock, within the policies of Park, three stone
coffins were unearthed and disclosed an urn and
some ashes, but they were closed up again. Arrow
heads have occasionally been picked up, and, early
in the present century, a few silver coins were
discovered on the farm of Dalmaik. In the Red

Drumoak. 37

Moss of Crathes also silver coins of the Roman
empire have been found, which strengthens the
theory that the Romans, under Agricola, were in
the district. Some of these coins were presented
to Blairs College by Sir James H. Burnett, and are
still preserved there.

Superstitious customs were frequently observed
in connection with deaths and burials. As late as
1670, when the Laird of Drum's daughter was
buried in Aberdeen, ten o'clock at night was the
hour selected, and such superstitious ceremonies
were performed that a quarrel arose and two
persons were wounded. To put an end to such
unseemly bickerings, the Council subsequently
ordained that all interments should take place
between sunrise and sunset.

The inscriptions upon the tombstones in the
churchyard shew that many of the parishioners
reached advanced ages. That upon David Stephen's,
weaver in Easter Cairnie, bears that he died upon
22nd November, 1809, aged 89, and that his wife,
Margaret Kennedy, died four years later, also aged
89. The inscription concluded with the rhyme : —

In Carnie sure did David die,

We hope his soul's in Heaven high ;

The body lies beneath this stone.

To moulder there both skin and bone.

[It was his blessed will to wear

A coat without a seam.
Which fitted well in every part,

Wove in a wyver's leem.]

3^ Drumoak.

According to the "Deeside Guide" the last four lines
were chiselled out by order of the late Rev. Dr.
Fraser. Another shews that John Collie, in Barres-
gate of Drum, died 24th June, 1832, in his 90th
year.

The " Aberdeen Journal " obituary columns
bear that Robert Guthrie, residenter in the parish,
died on 24th May, 1773, aged 103.

The above reference to the churchyard of
Drumoak suggests a story that illustrates very
vividly the stirring and horrible times of the
" resurrectionists." There lies here a body which
was at one time the occasion of a partly gruesome
and partly ludicrous episode.

Alexander Ross, better known by the nickname
of Shotty, was one of those strange freaks of nature
which apparently were more frequently met with
in earlier times than they are now. His body was
of normal size and length, but his legs were short,
out of all proportion to the rest of his frame.
Owing to his possessing many of the mental
pecularities — such as wonderful self-conceit, and
overmastering sense of self-importance — which
nature generally joins with her physical vagaries,
he was well-known in the parish and beyond it.
All the circumstances of his life, nature, frame, and
position, made him an object of talk to the country
people, and an object of a more mercenary and
fearful nature to the gentlemen who had to prepare
themselves for the treatment of the living body by
dissecting the dead. When, therefore, poor Shotty

Drumoak. 39

died, there were grim rumours that attempts would
be made to abstract his strangely proportioned
remains from their last resting place, and that he
who had suffered at the hands of nature in life,
would likely suffer at the hands of budding doctors
in death. These rumours and suspicions were not
short of the truth. On the night after the interment
a farmer named Collie, who resided on the borders
of Drumoak and Peterculter parishes, observed six
gentlemen making their way westwards, and at
once suspected that their object might be to
" resurrect" old Shotty. His suspicion was further
confirmed on the following evening by seeing the
same six persons pass up, this time accompanied
by a horse and gig — a thing rarely to be seen, and
sure to attract attention in those days when such
vehicles were so few and uncommon. Any doubt
he may have had as to their errand was altogether
dispelled by seeing them pass down again just
within a time that would have allowed of their
visiting the churchyard of Drumoak and returning
to that point. Thoroughly determined to thwart
their nefarious designs, he hastened with such speed
as his great age rendered possible to the neigh-
bouring village of Peterculter, and there told his
tale to the man that would most likely be of service
in a case requiring prodigious strength and daunt-
less courage. There could be no doubt as to the
superior qualifications in these respects of Charles
Edward, the village blacksmith, as will readily be
admitted by those who know or have seen his son

40 Drumoak.

and successor in the office at the present time.
Mr. Collie explained to Charles that owing to the
infirmities of age he himself could not give chase,
but offered the smith one of his swiftest horses if
he would follow, and, if possible, rescue from the
medical gentlemen the body of the deformed tailor.
The blacksmith, who never wore cap or covering on
his head, without coat or vest, without removing
his apron or taking down his upturned shirt sleeves
that exposed a grimy arm that even any black-
smith might have envied, vaulted on to the
bare back of Mr. Collie's horse and set off in hot
pursuit. The smith's charger required no prompt-
ing to show his paces, for the flapping of the apron
on his back alarmed him, and he bolted with the
speed of lightning, the smith with his towsy hair
flying in the wind, his apron spread to the breeze
like the sail of a boat, being carried along the road to
Aberdeen at break-neck speed. Near Stonegavel he
came upon the objects of his hunt, four of whom were
walking in the rear, while two were sitting in the
gig with the body of Shotty in a sack on the floor.
The smith's horse having had his will of racing was
nothing loth to obey the order to slacken pace,
when the smith, keeping alongside the gig, engaged
in conversation with the occupants and their com-
panions, till he heard the sound of another horse-
man who had followed on the alarm being raised
throughout the parishes. At that moment the
smith threw the reins upon his horse's neck, and
jumping down seized the reins of the horse in the

Drumoak. 41

gig, and demanded of the guardians of their prize,
" What have you got in that sack ? "

The great size and evident strength, the strange
garb of the questioner, his smoke-blackened face
furrowed with marks of perspiration, seemed to im-
press the pedestrian part of the company at least
with the notion that the smith had come from
warmer quarters than the smithy of Culter, and
they at once bolted into the adjoining wood. The
smith, never afraid of anything, and least of all
when his foes were reduced to only two, boldly pro-
ceeded to the gig, took out his large clasp knife and,
ripping open the sack, exposed to view the bald
head of SJiotty Ross, The hearts of the two re-
maining medicals now utterly failed them, and they
too sought safety in ignominious and hasty flight,
leaving the smith and his companion in possession of
the horse and the gig with its lifeless occupant. The
victors returned to Drumoak, where they were met
by a triumphal procession composed of the inhabi-
tants of the two parishes through which the rumour
of the adventure had spread like wildfire. The
horse and gig were afterwards claimed by a horse-
hirer from Aberdeen, who had, without knowing the
purpose, hired them to this party. The remains of
SJiotty were left in the church of Drumoak until a
coffin was prepared for them, and were then placed
in a grave so constructed alongside a dug grave, as
to be under the solid ground, where no "resurrection"
apparatus could reach them — a monument, at once,
of the pluck, courage, and strength of the portly

'^^

42 Drumoak.

blacksmith, and of those days, happily gone, when
the sorrows of bereaved friends were quickened by
the fear of the mutilation and dishonour of the
crumbling frames that had once enshrined the spirits
of their beloved.

An old female residenter relates that in her
youth she used frequently to assist in carrying the
kegs or bladders of smuggled whisky to Aberdeen.
On one occasion a farm at which she was in service
was visited by two excise officers, one of whom
was the famous Malcolm Gillespie of Skene. All
the smuggling appliances had been carefully con-
cealed, but the quantity of malt in the barn
happened to be in excess of that allowed by
Government It became necessary, therefore, to
put away this excess quantity, so, while the officers
were busily searching the far end of the dwelling
house, the quick-witted farmer contrived to get a
sackful of the contraband malt brought into the
room where his wife and her newly born baby
were in bed. In such an emergency the baby had
to give way temporarily, and the bag with its
contents was laid in the bed beside the mother.
The officers continued the search, and coming upon
nothing suspicious, ultimately took their departure,
leaving the clever farmer to enjoy with his friends
the trick which had been so skilfully played upon
the hated gaugers.

Estate of Drum. 43

ESTATE OF DRUM.

The Estate of Drum, which extends to nearly
one half of the parish of Drumoak, was in the
times of the early Scottish Kings part of a
royal hunting forest. The office of royal forester of
Drum was held by the Wauchopes of Culter prior
to 1306, but in that year the appointment was
recalled and conferred upon Alexander de
Burnard,^ ancestor of the Burnetts of Crathes.

At this time Robert the Bruce, actively engaged
in his fierce struggle for the freedom of Scotland,
was retreating before Edward I., and came to
Bonshaw in Dumfriesshire, where he for some time
found shelter and protection in the friendly
residence of William de Irwine or Irvine, the
proprietor. King Robert being struck by the
manly bearing and high spirited character of
William Irvine, son of this laird, selected him to
act as his armour-bearer and secretary. The youth,
having accompanied the King in his various
wanderings, and shared in his sufferings and
dangers, was, after the crowning victory of Ban-
nockburn, rewarded for his fidelity and service with
a grant of the land and forest of Drum. The grant
was made by royal charter, dated at Berwick, ist
February, 1323. Besides this, and other tokens of
the king's favour, Irvine had conferred on him the

I. Q^K^Xo^^ Archaelogical Museiiiii EditibtirgJi , 1856, pp. 11S-19.

44 Drutnoak.

device which the king had borne as Earl of Carrick,
viz, : — three branches of holly leaves, supported by-
two savages, wreathed, with the motto " Stib sole,
sub umbra, virens." The motto was given to show
that Irvine had faithfully adhered to the king, both
in prosperity and adversity.^

Some time after this a deadly feud would
appear to have broken out between the Keiths of
Dunnottar, hereditary Earls Marischal of Scotland,
and the Irvine family. Tradition has it that a
fierce engagement between the families and their
respective followers took place at a spot in the
parish on the north bank of the Dee, which is still
known by the name of the " Keith's Muir." Victory
declared for the Irvines, who drove their enemies
across the river at a deep and rocky part of its
channel, which still bears the title of the " Keith's
Pot," where a rock, which occasionally appears a
few inches above the water, on which it is said one
of the fugitives was killed while taking temporary
refuge, retains the name of the " Keith's Stone."
Another traditionary account represents that the
youth who was killed in this way was not flying
from a battle, but from a love meeting with one of
the young ladies of Drum. Be that as it may, the
feud between the two families raged so fiercely that
the States of the Kingdom at length interposed, and
induced Alexander Irvine, the third in descent, to
marry Elizabeth Keith, daughter of Sir Robert

I. MacKenzie's Heraldry.

Estate of Drum. 45

Keith, Marischal of Scotland. Irvine so far
tempered his resentment with that spirit of loyalty
which has always distinguished the family as to
enter into the suggested alliance, to the extent of
submitting to the celebration of the marriage
ceremony, and this merely formal union had the
desired effect, not only of terminating the differences
between the two families, but of binding them
together in long unbroken bonds of friendship. ^
But this powerful proprietor won laurels when
opposed by more formidable foes than the Keiths.
Being in France in 1408, he was induced to join
the Earl of Mar in helping John of Bavaria, the
secular bishop-elect of Liege, to get possession of
his See against the opposition of his rebellious
subjects. In the siege and conflicts which followed,
the command of the van was assigned to the Earl
of Mar ; and on the eve of a great battle Irvine and
several of the Scottish leaders were knighted.- In
141 1 Irvine, being then in Scotland, took up arms
against Donald, Lord of the Isles. That chieftain
laid claim to the Earldom of Ross, but the Regent
Albany decided against him, whereupon he raised
an army of ten thousand men and overran the
fertile provinces of Moray and Strathbogie —
breaking into and laying waste the Garioch district,
the greater part of which belonged to the Earl of
Mar, who rapidly mustered an army, in which a

1. Statistical Account of Aberdeenshire, p. 881.

2. Davidson's Inverurie and the Earldom of the Garioch, p. 87.

46 Dnmioak.

command was at once given to his old friend and
ally the Laird of Drum.

A severe engagement took place, on 24th July,
141 1, at Harlaw, near Inverurie, and during the
heat of it. Hector, the chief of the clan Maclean,
recognizing the rank of Irvine by the armorial
bearings emblazoned on his shield, engaged him in
single combat which was fought with such sanguin-
ary fierceness that both combatants were slain.
Drum was buried in the field of battle by his
followers, who raised a cairn of remembrance over
his grave ; and the following stanza, in the popular
ballad of the " Battle of Harlaw," records at once his
gallantry, and the high esteem with which his
countrymen regarded him : —

" Gude Sir Alexander Irvine,
The much renounit Laird of Drum :
None in his dais wer better sene,
Quhen thai wer semblit all and som.
To praise him we sud not be dumm,
For valour, wit, and worthiness ;
To end his dais he ther did cum,
Quhois ransum is remedyles."

It is said that when hastening to Harlaw, at the
head of his vassals, and in company with his
brother Robert, he halted upon the hill of Auch-
ronie, in the parish of Skene, from the summit of
which the house of Drum was visible on the one
hand, and the field of battle on the other, and there,
seated upon a stone, which still bears the appella-

Estate of Drum. 47

tion of " Drum's Stone," gave important directions
as to his affairs, and advised his brother, if he him-
self should be slain, to marry his sister-in-law on
his return, with whom, as he assured him, he had
never consummated his marriage. Robert, having
escaped the slaughter, married the lady according
to the advice, and, upon succeeding to the estate,
changed his christian name to Alexander, for which
it was alleged there was a precedent in the case of
Robert III.^ As a marriage dowry he got with
his wife the lands of Strachan in Kincardineshire.
He was one of the Commissioners deputed by the
States of Scotland to go to London in 1423, to
negotiate with the English Government for the
ransom of James I., who had for long been a captive
in England. The liberation having been effected,
Irvine received the honour of knighthood from that
Monarch in 1424. The unfortunate King was
cruelly murdered while holding Christmas at Perth,
and during the anarchy and confusion which
followed the event, the inhabitants of Aberdeen,
relying upon the friendship and good faith of the
Drum family, solicited the services of Sir Alex-
ander Irvine for the protection and defence of the
city. In 1440, therefore, he was, by the selection
and vote of the burgesses, elected Captain and
Governor of the burgh, which appointment invested
him with authority in the town superior to that of
the Provost. This responsible and onerous situ-

I. Burke's Landed Gentry, p. 614.

48 Druinoak.

ation was held by Sir Alexander for two years,
and there is no instance upon record of any other
individual having obtained a like distinction ; when
the Earl of Huntly in the next century became
the chief magistrate, it was by the title of Provost.^

Sir Alexander's love for the church was mani-
fested by his founding, in 1456, the chantry of
St. Ninian, the Confessor, within the church of St.
Nicholas, and his liberality in granting a perpetual
annuity of Ten merks from his lands for the support
of the officiating chaplain. His second son, to
whom he gave a grant of the lands of Whiteriggs
and Redmyres, distinguished himself so highly at
the battle of Brechin, in 1452, that he subsequently
received from the Marquis of Huntly, under whose
flag he served, the lands of Beltie in the parish of
Kincardine O'Neil, as a reward for his services.

In 1470, and during several subsequent years,
Alexander Irvine of Drum held the office of Sheriff
Depute of Aberdeen. He appears to have been of
a somewhat turbulent disposition, and in con-
sequence to have got involved in several quarrels.
In 147 1 he was summoned by "Walter Lindsay of
Bewfort for convening the lieges to the number of
sixty persons in arms," and also for " commyng
vpon the said Walter vnder silence of nycht quhan
he was in his bed at mydnycht." Irvine, failing to
appear, was ordered to " enter his persone in warde
within the Castel of Berwic," and there to remain

I. Castles of Aberdeenshire, p. 39.

Estate of Drum. 49

till "fred be our Souerane Lord." At the same
time he was " depriuit for euer fra the office of
deput schireffschip,"^ but the latter sentence was
afterwards reversed. The fierce temper of this
laird, however, led him into further difficulties as
evidenced by the remission granted to him and
his associates by James III. in 1487, "for the
slaughter at the Brig of Balgowny of Alexander
Fresare and George Tailzour, and for the dis-
membering and mutilation, in the Place of Drum,
of Sir Edward Makdowell, Chaplain."- Fraser and
Taylor were dependants of the Frasers of Philorth,
and met their death in a skirmish which took place
with Irvine and his confederates, who seem to have
been lying in wait for them at the Bridge of Don,
as they and their master. Sir Alexander Fraser, in
company with his son, passed to or from Aberdeen.
Notwithstanding the remission granted by the
King for the offence, the chief aggressor was
pressed to make compensation, and nine years
later he paid One hundred merks in the name of
"kin-boot."3

He married Nannys Menzies of the Pitfodels
family, by Vt'hom he had at least three sons and
one daughter. In 1493, his wife being then dead,
he made provision for these children " to sustain
them at the scolis," as well as during the rest of
their lives as follows : — " to David, his guidis beand

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, I., pp. 278-9.

2. Ibid, III., pp. 298-99.

3. Ibid, p. 304.
E

50 Drumoak.

within the lands of Coule, that is to say XX tine of
oxen and five chalder of malt fermes yerlie . . .
and thre hundredth wederis beand within the
Fortrie in Buchan . . . : — to Alexander, his
guidis beand in Kinquharroquhe, that is to say the
corn, thirty four oxin, and three hundred youis
. . . : — to John, his guidis corne, oxin, and eight
score youis, within the Cragtoune . . . : — to
Agnes his dochter, his guidis corne, oxin, and eight
score youis being in Dalmayok, togidder with
twenty four ky and ane bull in Collangy to
opbring her and mary her.''^

At the accession of James V. to the Scottish
throne, after the disastrous battle of Flodden, we
find the family still powerful, and supporting the
honourable reputation it had previously acquired.
By deed of gift, dated 3rd December, 1527, James
conferred upon the eldest son and heir of the then
deceased Alexander Irvine of Drum, a gift of non-
entry to the lands of Forglen. The deed, which is
still extant, purports to be bestowed "on account of
the good and thankful service done to the king by
Alexander Irvine of Forglen, his said deceased
father and friends in searching, taking, and bringing
of the rebels, thieves, reivers, sorners, and murderers
to justice, and in part recompense of their great
labours and expenses sustained thairthrow."-

The young laird referred to played a con-

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., pp. 301-302.

2. Ibid, pp. 573-74-

Estate of Drum. 5 1

spicuous part in the stirring events which occurred
during the minority of the unfortunate Mary
Stuart, and in September, 1547, marched with the
citizens of Aberdeen to swell the Scottish army,
which had been rapidly mustered to repel the
English invasion under Protector Somerset. A
piece of ordnance, known as " the great falcon,"
was supplied from Drum and carried with the
army. Irvine was present at the disastrous battle
of Pinkie, where he was numbered among the slain.

His son succeeded to the estates on the death
of his grandfather, and married Lady Elizabeth
Keith, daughter of the Earl Marischal, by whom he
had a large family. Their eldest son, who acquired
the lands in 1583, distinguished himself as a patron
of learning and a benefactor to the poor. He made
certain monetary advances to James VI., for which
he received that King's holograph bond, dated 27th
November, 1587. He was held in such high esteem
in Aberdeen that, in 1 596, his servant , Stevin
Smyth, was admitted a Burgess of Guild of that
city " vpon consideratioun, that the said Laird off
Drum hes stand at all tymes guid freynd and weill
welar of the burght."^ He married Lady Marion
Douglas, daughter of the Earl of Buchan, and the
following extract from the Privy Council Register,
not only shows the risk their two sons ran of being
murdered, but gives general insight into the lawless
and defiant spirit of those times : —

"Upon 15th October, 1607, Alexander Irwing of

I. Miscellany New Spalding Club, p. 89.

52 Drumoak.

DrumandMr.RobetlrwingofMoncofFer complained
to the Privy Council as follows : — Upon 4th Sep-
tember last, Johnne Mortymer, called Johnne the
Baron, Patrik Forbes, son of Johnne in Mylnebowy,
Duncane Forbes, stabler in Abirdene, Johnne
Bowis, servitor to Johnne Forbes, called of Corsin-
dae, Andro Forbes, glasswright in Abirdene, with
others, to the number of threescore persons, all
armed with swords, halberts, secrets, plaitsleeves, and
with hagbuts and pistolets, prohibited to be worn,
came to the Black Friar Croft, beside the kirk style
of Abirdene, and there ' maist feirslie' set upoun the
said Mr. Robert, while he was executing his
Majesty's commission, directed to the Laird of
Drum, for apprehending certain murderers ,and
malefactors, and would have slain him but for
Providence and his own better defence. Immedi-
ately thereafter, the said persons went to the
grammar school of Abirdene, where they expected
to find and intended to kill, Alexander and Robert
Irwingis, sons of the Laird of Drum, boys of the
ages of eleven and thirteen years respectively, ' and
with drawin swordis, durkis, and daigaris barbar-
ouslie stoggit the daskis of the said scoole,
presentet bendit pistollettes to the maister thairof,
urgeing him to schaw unto thame quhair the saidis
tua bairnes wer : lyke as the said maister of the
scQole eschaipit frome thame verie hardlie with his
lyff.' "... The defenders not compearing
were ordered to be put to the horn,'^ but being

I. Privy Council Register, VII., p. 449.

Estate of Drum. 53

afterwards discovered were brought to trial.
Powerful influence was used in their favour, and
they got off with a very light sentence of imprison-
ment. The King in his indignation at the mis-
carriage of justice, sent a special letter to the Privy
Council expressing " muche mervell how this grosse
oversight" had "bene committet," and ordering
the whole circumstances of the case to be certified
to him "with speede."^

In February, 1622, Irvine had a special licence
granted him by the lords of the secret council that
he, his wife, and such as might be in company with
them at table, could " eit and feid vpoun fleshes in
the forbidden tyme of Lentroun and siclyk vpoun
VVednisdayis Frydayis and Seterdayes for the
space of ane yeir . . without paine ciyme, skaithe
or daunger."- We are told that he " liv'd
decently ; was a plain man, nicknamed Litle
Breeches^ and' increased in wealth."^ In 1629, he
mortified Ten thousand pounds scots for the main-
tenance of four bursars in philosophy and two in
divinity at Marischal College, and four at the
Grammar School, Aberdeen, vesting the right of
presentation to these bursaries upon his successor
in the estate of Drum. He also mortified thirty-two
bolls of meal to certain persons on his property in
Drumoak, viz, : — twelve to poor scholars, eight to
the parochial schoolmaster for teaching them, and

1. Privy Council Register, VII., p. 530.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, vol. III., p. 309.

3. Ibid, I., p. 41.

54 Drumoak.

twelve to decayed tenants, all of which arc divided
annually at the sight of the kirk-session. In the
following year he mortified Four hundred merks
scots to the Guild Brethren's Hospital of Aberdeen,
and Six hundred merks scots were also at the
same time set apart for the upkeep of Drum's
Aisle. Two years later his lady, emulating the
example of her husband, mortified Three thousand
merks to endow an hospital for the widows and
aged daughters of decayed burgesses of Aberdeen.

The next laird in succession was Sir Alexander
Irvine, son of the benevolent couple just mentioned,
who married Magdalen, daughter of Sir John
Scrimzeour, of Dudhope, Constable of Dundee.
He was Sheriff Principal of Aberdeenshire in 1634,
and in several subsequent years ; he was held in
high estimation by Charles I., who made out a
patent creating him Earl of Aberdeen, which,
however, was prevented from passing the Great
Seal by the breaking out of the Civil War. The
Drum family then possessed extensive and valu-
able estates in the counties of Aberdeen, Forfar,
and Banff; among many others, Cromar, Forglen,
Kinmuck, Kelly in Arbirlot, Lonmay, Fedderate,
Artamford, and Auchindoir. In 1639 Sir Alex-
ander continued to retain the office of Sheriff, but
he suffered much in his person, his family, and his
property, on account of his attachment to the
Royal cause.

It was on the 2nd June, 1640, that the Cove-
nanter, General Munro, accompanied by the Earl

Estate of Drum. , 55

Marischal, marched to besiege the Castle of Drum.
Spalding relates that the laird was then from home,
but that his lady with some " prettie men " were
within the house, which had been previously
furnished with ammunition and provisions. When
the army of the Covenanters came within musket
shot they were saluted by a discharge, which
killed two of their number, and induced the assail-
ants to try the effect of a parley, previous to
persevering in their efforts to reduce this strong
tower by warlike means. In answer to the sum-
mons, the lady requested time for decision, and
twenty-four hours were granted that she might
obtain her husband's opinion ; previous, however,
to the expiry of this truce, the lady determined to
surrender, and delivered up the keys on condition
that her soldiers should be permitted to march out
with their baggage, and that she herself, her
children, and women servants should be permitted
to remain and occupy an apartment in the castle.^
These conditions being accepted, Munro left a
garrison of an officer and forty men to live at free
quarters, and enjoined the lady to send her husband
to him on his arrival. He left Drum on the 5th of
June, returning triumphantly to Aberdeen, where,
accompanied by the Earl Marischal, he attended
divine service, and returned thanks for the capture
of this stronghold without greater difficulty, delay,
or loss.

I. Castles of Aberdeenshire, p. 40.

56 Drumoak.

The persecution of the house of Drum did not
terminate with the incident just recorded, for the
next laird in succession was subjected to still
greater hardships and dangers ; he, in his father's
lifetime, married the Lady Mary Gordon, fourth
daughter of George, second Marquis of Huntly,^
and was a zealous friend and supporter of the
great Marquis of Montrose. The marriage did not
tend to weaken, but "rather to strengthen and con-
firm in him those political principles which he had
inherited from his forefathers. Accordingly, he
and his brother Robert, during the lifetime of their
father, joined the banner of Charles, and dis-
tinguished themselves so highly in his service that
they were excommunicated 14th April, 1644, and
had a price set upon their heads ; Eighteen thousand
merks being offered for the young laird, dead or
alive, and Nine thousand merks for Robert. In
view, therefore, of their perilous position, they
endeavoured to escape to England by embarking
on a small ship at Fraserburgh, but being obliged,
through adverse winds, to land at Wick, where a
committee of the Estates happened to be sitting,
they were made prisoners and warded in the
castle of Keiss. Thence they were conducted,
under a strong escort, to Edinburgh, and lodged in
the city jail. Robert, after a rigorous confinement
of six months, died, and was secretly buried at
midnight. The young laird, who occupied the

I. History Earldom of Sutherland ^ p. 574.

Estate of Drum. 57

same apartment, and whose health had also become
impaired, was removed to the castle under sentence
of death. His execution, however, was happily
averted by the defeat of the Covenanters at Kilsyth
in 1645 ; and, in compliance with the stipulations
made by the Marquis of Montrose with the
delegates from Edinburgh, he and the other
prisoners there were restored to liberty.

In the following year the young laird with a
troop of horse, and Farquharson of Invery with two
hundred infantry, beat up the quarters of the
Covenanters on Deeside, within six miles of Aber-
deen, taking seventy prisoners with all their horses,
baggage and provisions.

In April, 1660, Drum appeared before the
Synod of Aberdeen, and supplicated the Synod to
interpose its authority and advice to the Presbytery
to " forbear to pronunce ther sentence of excom-
munication agaynst him for poperie," and the
Synod " beeing verie desyrous by all lawfull means
to gayne thee said Alexander Irwing of Drumm to
thee profession of thee trueth," sustained the
application, and ordered the Presbytery to " enter-
tane frequent conferences with thee said Laird." ^

In 1 66 1, the year after the accession of
Charles II., Drum presented a petition to the
King as follows : — " That your petitioner and his
family have not onely endured the generall
calamityes of the late times, but also have felt a

I. Ecclesiastical Records of Aberdeen, p. 261.

58 Dnwioak.

storme of peculiar misery to fall heavily vpon them
above many others, and that meerly for their constant
loyalty to your Majestic. For besides the long
imprisonment of his father and of himselfe, and the
loss of his brother . . . his lands were the first
of Scotland that were spoiled and wasted, his
father was twice fyned in foure thousand pounds
sterling, his house of Drum foure times garisoned
and at length totally plundered, his wife and
children turned out of dores, and the revenue of his
land detained from him for the space of five
yeares by one of the name of Forbes, whereby your
petitioners family, which before was in a plentifull
and prosperous condition, is now become very low
and in daunger of sinking. May it therefore please
your Majestic of your innate goodness and bounty
to take your petitioners sufferings and losses into
your princely consideration, and not permit his
family to perish for fidelity to your Majestic, but
rather gratiously assigne him some reparation out
of the estates of those who have received his fines
and detained his rents, or by any other way your
Majestic in your royall wisdome shall think
fitting."!

All the reparation the laird v/ould appear to
have received was an offer of the Peerage which had
previously been made to his father, but, in the then
circumstances of the family, it was declined. About
twenty years afterwards, the king, in changing the

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 311.

Estate of Drutn. 59

holding of the lands from simple ward to taxed
ward, took occasion to express the deep sense
which he entertained of the family's eminent
loyalty and good services and sufferings in the
cause of the Government. Sir Alexander Irvine
died in 1687, and was buried in Drum's Aisle of
the Church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, his funeral
being attended by the magistrates and citizens
under arms. He was survived by a son, Alexander,
who succeeded, and four daughters. Of the latter,
Mary married Patrick, Count Leslie of Balquhain,
Margaret married Gilbert Menzies of Pitfodels,
Jean married Alexander Irvine of Murtle, and
Henrietta married Alexander Leslie of Pitcaple.
In his old age the laird is said to have married a
second wife of humble origin, which gave rise to
the ballad : —

" The Laird o' Drum is a hunting gane
All in the morning early ;
And he has spied a well far'd May
Was shearing at her barley."

In 1687, while upon his death-bed, he tailzied
his estate, failing heirs male of his own body, to the
Irvines of Murtle, Artamford, and Cults, and their
heirs male in order. ^ His eldest son Alexander,
who succeeded, died in 1695, before the birth of his
expected child. The death, under such circum-
stances, was the cause of some curious proceedings.

I. Nisbet's Heraldry, II., pp. 67-8.

6o Drumoak.

Before the burial had taken place, Alexander
Irvine of Murtle, the heir under the entail, took
possession of Drum Castle, and treated the widow,
Marjory Forbes, with such harshness that she and
her relatives, William, Lord Forbes, Sir Alexander
Forbes of Tolqulion and others, were compelled
to petition the Privy Council to ordain the laird of
Murtle and his associates to remove from Drum for
a stated period. The complaint bore that since it has
" pleased God to call the Laird of Drum by death,
the said Murthill has thereupon convocat a Band of
Armed men to the number of . . with Swords,
Guns, Sparrs, Fore Hammers, Axes, and others,
And under silence of night did, so barbarously
Assault and invade the House of Drum, while the
Corps was yet Un-buried, that they have scaled the
Walls, broken up the Gates and Doors, torn off the
Locks, and Possessed themselves so far of all the
Rooms, that the Lady is confined to a most
miserable Condition, in a remote obscure narrow
corner, and there is no access allowed to her, but
at one indecent and most unconvenient Back-
Entry ; So that she is . . . under Dread and
Fear of being Murdered by the said outragious
Band of Men sua convocat by Murthill, who
carrouse and roar night and day to her great
Disturbance and Terror - . . ."

Alexander Irvine of Murtle succeeded to the
estates of Drum, and thereupon sold Murtle and
Strachan, the latter of which was not included in
the entail.

Estate of Drum. 6 1

It was during the time of this proprietor that
"Two Ingenious Gentlemen" who were travelling
from Fettercairn to Deeside, having lost their way,
"fell upon Drum Irwing's House, where they found
much kindness, and all things Commendable, save
a great Quech, which they were made to drink out
of, to amend which, one of the Gentlemen, after
Departure, sent a lesser one," together with a poem,
in which, while deprecating immoderate indulgence
in liquor, he compliments the laird of Drum on his
hospitality, and speaks of his two sons as : —

. roaring Boyes
Not drunk with wine but overdrunk with Joys,
Rose up, and on their tiptoes danc't a Dance
That all the Light-Foot Satyres within France
Could ne'er for all their Documents of Art
Have played the like in whole or yet in part."^

On Irvine's death in 1719, he was succeeded by
his son, Alexander, who died unmarried in 1735,
when the estate came into the possession of his
uncle, John Irvine, who married Katherine, daughter
of Robert Fullerton of Dudwick, and died in 1737,
leaving no family, the male line of the Murtle
branch becoming extinct. The succession then
devolved upon Alexander Irvine of Crimond, great-
grandson of John Irvine of Artamford. In 1744,
he became likewise heir of line to the entailer by
the death, without male issue, of Irvine of Saphock.
In 1698 he had married Isabel, daughter of
Thomas Thompson of Faichfield. Their eldest

I. Jervise's Epitaphs, II., p. 370.

62 Driimoak.

son died without issue, but the second, Alex-
ander, inherited the estates of Drum and Crimond.
He took part in the Stuart rising of '45,
and his name in the list of those engaging in it
appears thus : — "Alexander Irvine Esqr of Drum
carried arms with the rebels during the whole
Rebellion. Now lurking in the Highlands." Sub-
sequently being pardoned, he married in 175 1,
Mary, second daughter of James Ogilvie of Auch-
iries, by whom he had three sons and three
daughters. This Laird of Drum died in 1761, and
was succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander,
born in October, 1754; he married on the 31st
December, 1775, Jane, only daughter of Hugh
Forbes of Schivas ; they had four sons and one
daughter. Alexander J^orbes Irvine, the eldest of
this family, was born in 1777, and became an
advocate at the Scottish Bar ; he succeeded in 1807,
to the estate of Schivas, as heir of entail, and, in
1 816, married Margaret, daughter of James Hamil-
ton, by whom he had three sons and two daughters.
On the death of his father, he became the Laird
of Drum, and afterwards reclaimed by excambion
part of the adjoining property of Culter, which had
formerly been a portion of the extensive and valu-
able estates of the family. His heir and successor,
Alexander Forbes Irvine, the nineteenth laird, was
Sheriff of Argyllshire till 1891, and, for the long
period of twenty seven years acted as Convener of
the County of Aberdeen. He married a daughter
of Colonel Forbes Leslie of Rothienorman, author

Estate of Drum. 63

of Eleven Years in Ceylon, Early Races of Scot-
land, and other works. Of this marriage one son
survives.

With regard to the Castle of Drum, the follow-
ing interesting particulars are taken from the
Castles of Aberdeenshire.^ " The very ancient tower,
and more modern house of Drum, is situated in the
parish of Drumoak, and about ten miles from
Aberdeen. Placed on an eminence, and surrounded
by extensive woods, it forms a striking and pictur-
esque object worthy of its history as a former royal
residence, and more recently the baronial seat of
one of the most ancient and powerful families in
the county.

" The more modern part of the house of Drum
was remodelled in 1619, but the tower is of many
centuries earlier date. It is a large and massive
building, rounded at the angles, being fifty feet six
inches in length, thirty-eight feet six inches wide,
and seventy feet six inches high. The walls are
twelve feet in thickness in the first storey above
ground, and of still greater solidity in the vaults
below, in one of which is a draw-well. From the
first storey in the south-east corner, within the
wall, ascends a stair which leads to the higher parts
of the building. The different storeys are all
vaulted, and the uppermost is thirty feet in height.
The tower had an alcoved roof of considerable
height, which is now removed, and one of less

I. Castles of Aberdeenshire, p. 37.

64 Drumoak.

altitude and leaded has been substituted. There is
a broad terrace covered with flagstones within the
parapet, which is embrazured to a height affording
protection to its garrison in times when defence
became necessary.

" The form and construction of the tower, which
forms the oldest part of the Castle of Drum, its
internal arrangements, its situations and materials,
as well as other circumstances, local and historical,
all point to an early period, and give support to
the tradition that it was erected by King William
the Lion in the end of the twelfth or beginning
of the thirteenth century. Its architecture is of
the simplest description. The well in the dun-
geon, the thickness of the walls, the vaulted roofs,
the windows few, small, and far from the ground,
no entrance lower than the first floor, which was
only reached by steps originally removable in
times of danger, all show that it was built for
security and defence, whilst its position com-
manded on the north and west by a contiguous
range of rising ground, proves that its strong walls
were not intended to withstand cannon. The
rounded corners of this otherwise square tower,
like the round towers at the corner of the curtain
walls of more extensive castles and places of
defence in the olden time, afforded no salient points
for the battering engines to act upon. These are
all reasons why this tower may be of so early a
date ; and one of the arguments against its being
of a later era is the useless expense from the great

Estate of Leys. 65

strength of its construction and the inconvenience
from so little light being admitted ; whilst, after
the use of cannon, its position rendered it entirely
indefensible against ordnance, which, from the ad-
joining eminence, might fire point-blank on the
summit of the tower. The interior consists of three
vaulted chambers, each of which occupies an entire
storey. A small recess formed in the wall of each
of the two highest compartments is the only
attempt at any further separate accommodation
provided in the original masonry, although it seems
probable that wooden platforms, forming additional
floors, were supported on the corbel-tables which
project immediately beneath the spring of the
arches of the two uppermost storeys. One of these
floors, in fact, still remained until nearly forty years
ago, when the middle storey was made into the
present library. The lowest and highest compart-
ments are still untouched as when they left the
hands of the builders centuries ago."^

ESTATE OF LEYS.

The family of Burnett, the owners of this pro-
perty, is of great antiquity in the South of
Scotland," In 1128 Robert de Burnard witnessed
the foundation charter by David I. of the Abbey of

1. Ferguson's Railway Scenery, p. 93.

2. Douglas Baronage, p. 41.
F

66 Drumoak.

Kelso, but at what period the family settled in the
north cannot be accurately stated. In 1306,
certain lands that had belonged to the Wauchopes,^
till their downfall in that year, were granted to the
Burnetts, as was also the office of forester of the
forest of Drum. The hunting, or tenure horn,
pertaining to the office, is still possessed by the
family, and a fine woodcut of it is given in Wilson's
Prehistoric Amials of Scotland, wo\. II., plate XXV.,
page 501. It is ivory mounted with silver gilt, and
has a baldric or scarf of green, silk tasselled.

In 1323 King Robert Bruce conveyed the
forest of Drum with the appointment of forester to
William de Irwine, and in the following year granted
to Alexander de Burnard, in recompense for the
loss of that office, and in discharge of a debt due to
him for making the park of the forest, the lands of
" Kilhenach Clerach and the six merk lands of the
two Cardenys."^ The former are situated in the
parish of Drumoak, and the latter comprehend
part of the parish of Skene and about half of the
parish of Banchory-Ternan, north of the Dee, the
other half of the last named parish being then in
the possession of the convent of Arbroath, to which
also the cure and tithes belonged.

Alexander de Burnard was succeeded by his
son Robert, who got the lands confirmed to him by
a charter, under the great seal, from King David

1. QzXsXo^^ Archaeological Mu5etii7i Edinburgh, ^. 118.

2. Douglas Baronage, p., 41.

Estate of Leys. 6y

Bruce, dated at Scone, 17th November, 1358.^
John, the son who succeeded, held the office of
King's macer, for which he had an annuity of ten
merks, a considerable sum in those days. He had
the property erected into a barony under the
designation of " Leys," and his son, Robert, was the
first that bore that title. The seventh laird,
Alexander Burnett, in 1497 got a tack from the
Abbot of Arbroath of the lands of Glenfarquhar."
The ninth proprietor was John Burnett, who
married Elizabeth Lumsden, daughter of the laird
of Cushnie. The eleventh proprietor, Alexander
Burnett, married Katharine, daughter of Alex-
ander Gordon of Lismore, by whom he had seven
daughters and six sons. Of the latter, the eldest
son predeceased his father ; the third, James of
Craigmyle, was the progenitor of the Burnetts of
Monboddo ; the fourth, Robert, became Lord
Crimond, a lord of Session ; the fifth died un-
married, and the sixth, John, was the factor for
the Scots at Campvere. The second son, Thomas,
who succeeded to Leys, had the honour of knight-
hood conferred upon him by James VL^ Later,
in April 1626, Charles L created him a Baronet of
Nova Scotia,* and in 1642 gave him a charter to
. the lands and barony of Strachan. He was con-
spicuous in supporting the Covenant, and in

1. Douglas Baronage, I., p. 41.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid, p. 42.

4. Anderson's Scottish Nation, I., p. 489.

68 Drumoak.

resisting the prelatic measures of Charles and his
Court. In conjunction with Dr. Alexander Reid, he
erected and endowed the Reid-Burnett schools in
Banchory-Ternan, and in 1648 mortified four
crofts beside the Crabstane, Aberdeen, " for behoof
of three bursars in King's College."^ He was
twice married — first, to Margaret, daughter of Sir
Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, and secondly, to
Jean, daughter of Sir John Moncrieff.

The fifteenth laird and third baronet. Sir
Thomas Burnett, member for Kincardineshire in
the last Scottish parliament, was a strenuous
opponent of the Union.

The fifth baronet, Sir Robert, died unmarried,
and the title thereupon devolved upon his cousin.
Sir Thomas Burnett. He married Catherine, sister
of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain, and died in
1783. His eldest son, Sir Robert, the seventh
baronet, was for some time an officer in the Royal
Scots Fusiliers, and served throughout the first
American War, in which he was taken prisoner at
Saratoga. He died in 1837, and was succeeded by
his eldest son. Sir Thomas, who died in February,
1849, when his brother. Sir Alexander, H.E.I.C.S.,
became ninth baronet, and died unmarried, 20th
March, 1856. His next brother. Sir James Horn
Burnett, succeeded as tenth baronet. He was
Lord-Lieutenant of Kincardineshire, and, dying in
1876, was succeeded by his son, the present pro-
prietor, Sir Robert Burnett, Bart.

I. Fasti Aberdonenses, p. 535.

Estate of Leys. 6g

The general history of the family is associated
with the memory of men of great ability, education,
and worth who have bequeathed substantial intel-
lectual legacies to the country. Dr. Gilbert
Burnett, bishop of Salisbury, who graduated at
Marischal College, Aberdeen, before he was fourteen
years of age, and was licensed to preach before he
was eighteen, was the son of Robert Burnett of
Crimond. He is described as having been "a
most elegant and powerfull preacher ; very frank
and very plain in manners ; uncurious of politeness^
save in the pulpit, harangues of parliament, and
in the stile of his writings, which are not a few, and
like to live as long as the reform'd religion lives in
Britain — that is to doomsday."^ He will be best
remembered by his work, T/ie History of My Owti
Times. His brother. Sir Thomas Burnett, who
occupied the position of court physician, was the
author of several valuable works. Three grandsons
of the first baronet likewise achieved distinction.
Two of them, Duncan and Thomas, were eminent
physicians in England, and the third, Gilbert, was
professor of philosophy at Basle, and afterwards at
Montauban.

Crathes Castle, the family seat of the Burnett
family, is thus described in Billing's Baronial
Antiquities — " Deeply retired in luxurious woods,
the glimpse of this mansion, obtained from the
highway, excited only without gratifying curiosity,

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff", I., pp. 39-40.

JO Drumoak.

until a late thinning of the timber developed more
fully its crowded mass of picturesque architectural
peculiarities. Though consisting of the elements
common to most of the northern mansions — a
multitude of conical turrets, high crow-stepped
gables, and angular dormer windows — there is
something quite peculiar in the arrangement of
these details. They are not cast free to shew their
separate outlines in the sky, but are, as it were
crowded and pressed together, as if the free air
offered the architect insufficient room for a full
development of his resources. The turrets run into
kindred forms in the towers and gables, and are
depressed below the higher levels of the edifice.
The outline is thus lumpish, but the general effect
of the middle grouping is one of extreme richness
and picturesqueness.

The appearance of the building at once pro-
claims it to be the gradual accumulation of
additions made at various times to the original old
square tower with rounded edges." ^

A writer in the early part of the last century
says — " The house of Crathess is well built, well
planted with natural and artificial wood ; the
gardens produce delicate fruit ; the soil is warm ;
the victual [meaning the grain] substantious and
weighty." -

The Court Book of the Barony of Leys gives
considerable insight to the baronial jurisdiction of

1. BiWing's Barom'al Andtjuiites, vol. I.

2. Antiquities A derc/een and Ban^, I., p. 38.

Estate of Leys. yi

past times, as well as an idea of what was expected
of tenant-farmers in the seventeenth century.

In 162 1 John Campbell was appointed '• pund-
lar for keiping of the new wards and zoung woods,'
and ordained to poind for every " man, womane,
hors or nolt," apprehended within the walls, 3s. 4d.,
and for "Ilk scheip aucht penneis." 1623, James
Paterson being convicted for deforcing John McKay
in taking back a horse which had been lawfully
poinded ordered to pay a fine of ^40, and to sit
twenty four hours in the stocks. 1625, Thomas
Duncan and his son being convicted of hurting,
wounding, and blood drawing of Alex. Craigmyle,
ordained to pay ;i^40 to the laird, and to ward till
the same be paid, with ;^5 of compensation to the
complainer. 1626, ordained that whatsoever hus-
bandman be found absent from any " vpanischaw"
pay 40s.. and every " coatter" and girsman 20s., and
every " hyerman" los. Ten men were subsequently
fined as above for absence from the " wapin-
schaw." 1628, ordained that if any man '' brew ane
firlot of malt to sell " the brewer " sail assuiredlie
pay ane steane of tallow," under pain of poinding,
1629, three tenants commissioned to keep order
among all " flytters and bakbytters, " and to put
them in the stocks till payment be made of 40s.''
1634, ordained that whatsoever " brouster sail recept
or sell aill " to any of the lairds domestic servands
shall pay £10 to the laird. 1637, decreed that all
tenants due peats or fire that ought to be carried in
to the lairds " bairnes in Aberdeen, or that may not

72 Drumoak. *

be carried in to them in due time in future shall pay
for each load 40s. ; as also decreed that whatso-
evir fire the tenants may carry to Aberdeen for
their own use shall be taken from them and given
in to the said bairnes chalmerer into the colledge.
On the same date all tenants who have any
" sklaitis" at their houses ordered to bring them to
the place of Leys within forty-eight hours under
the penalty of £\o. 1639, the "haile" tenants
decerned to be in the " pairt" appointed by the
laird or his son, in two or three hours space in
" o.ny pairt of the lards avin bounds," for holding
out the highlandmen, &c., &c., under penalty of
;^20, as also any husbandman having any of the
lairds " gunnis or muskats" and bringing them not
out at the meeting to defend the ground to pay
^20 " for the gunn." 1649, on the complaint of the
officer that tenants who pay rent in fowls, &c.,
go to Aberdeen and sell these quhairthrow the
lairds hens is " altogidder misserweit," decreed
that each tenant who deliurs not in future the fowls
as commandit shall pay 12s. for each capon, 6s. for
each hen, and 3s, for each chicken within twenty-
four hours under the pain of poinding. 1650,
statute that no tenant " strik nor ding wthers
beastes," as great " skaith" lately done through the
animals being struck indiscreetly with great trees
and stones. 1660, the Stewart showing that he had
been frequently reproved for presenting to the
laird's table " ewill baikin bread," and that he was
•' nocht abill to amend the same for the want of

Park. 73

barme," decerned as " thair is ane gryt pluralite of
brewars within the laird's awin lands, that ilk ane
in his turn" shall give weekly " ane quart of barme,"
and receive three loaves in exchange for the same.

ESTATE OF PARK.

Robert I., in granting the forest lands of Drum to
William de Irwine, reserved " the park " of the same,
which in 1359 was granted, in free forest, by
David II. to Walter Moigne. Shortly afterwards,
John Moigne, described as " Lord of the Park of
the Droum," entered into an agreement with
Alexander Irvine of Drum, by the terms of which
it was provided — first, that on the death of Moigne,
the lands of Park should belong to Irvine and his
heirs ; second, that in the interim Irvine should
have the chalder of meal, which he had been wont
to pay annually for the upkeep of the park ; third,
that the profits of courts should be divided
equally ; and fourth, that Irvine should have the
privilege of appointing a forester at " Badarach,"
who was to have of land to the sowing of six
firlots of bere, and five bolls of oats.^ In 1389
Robert II, granted a charter of the lands to the
said Alexander Irvine, whose descendants retained
them till 1737, when, the entail having been broken,
they were sold to Patrick Duff of Culter.

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen mid Banff, III., p. 294.

74 DrumoaH,

In 1807 the property was purchased at the
upset price of Nine thousand pounds by Thomas
Burnett, advocate in Aberdeen. Fourteen years
later, he sold it to William Moir, who, in 1822,
erected on the property a substantial mansion house
in the Grecian style of architecture, and had the
garden and surrounding policies laid out with much
taste and judgment.

In 1839 Alexander John Low, afterwards
Kinloch, became proprietor under the following
circumstances. In the beginning of the century,
James Kinloch, a native of Kincardineshire, entered
the house of Forbes and Company in India, in
which he ultimately became a partner. He died a
bachelor,* leaving a considerable fortune to the
family of a sister, Mrs Low, whose husband was a
partner in the firm of Forbes, Low and Company,
Manufacturers, Aberdeen. The testator provided
that Seventy thousand pounds of the residue of his
estate should be invested in the purchase of land
in Scotland, and also that his heir should assume
the surname of Kinloch — provisions which were,
readily complied with. The heir, A. J. Low, after-
wards Kinloch, was bred a physician, and by his
wife, a daughter of the late James Hutcheon, West

* Within the grounds of Par.k House there is a polished granite
obelisk which bears the following inscription : —

" In memory ok James Kinloch, Esq., Jermyn Street,
St. James's, London, formerly ok Bombay, in the East
Indies, who died on the 29TH day of August, 1838, in the

63RD YEAR OF HIS AGE. ERECTED BY HIS NEPHEWS."

Parish Church. 75

India Merchant, had a large family. For many-
years before his death he was proprietor of Altries,
in the parish of Maryculter.

The estate was purchased from Mr. Kinloch's
Trustees in July, 1888, for Forty-seven thousand
pounds by Andrew Penny, silver and copper
mine owner, of Oruro, Bolivia. Mr. Penny, who
was a native of the parish of Birse, was much
attached to Deeside, and intended to take up his
permanent residence at Park, but while en route
for Scotland died intestate and without issue, at
Hamanchaca, South America, on i8th May, 1889.
He was succeeded by his brother and heir-at-law,
James Penny.

PARISH CHURCH.

(St. Mayot or Mazota, Virgin).

Drumoak has, for its titular Saint, Mayot or
Mazota, Virgin, whose feast was formerly kept on
22nd December, and whose name is perpetuated
by a well, known by the name of St. Maik's Well.
It is said that Garnard, being at war with the
Britons, was admonished in a vision to send to
Ireland for his cousin. Saint Bride, to instruct him
in the faith, and that she came bringing with her
nine nuns, the chief of whom was this Saint Mazota.
It is further stated that the King, having been

y6 Dnimoak.

baptised, built a Cathedral which was duly con-
secrated, and that Saint Bride and Saint Mazota,
with their eight companions, took up their abode
there, and lived in the profession and practice of
the doctrines and precepts of religion.^

Boece will have Saint Mazota to have been the
eldest of the nine daughters of Saint Donald, who
lived in the Glen of Ogilvy in Glammis parish,
where their fields were infested with wild geese that
ate up their corn till this nun so effectually forbade
them to return that they were never afterwards
seen there."

The Church of " dulmayok " was confirmed to
the See of Aberdeen by Pope Adrian IV., in 1157,"^
and in the Old Taxation of 1275 it is rated at Six
merks. In 1368 the pastor was made a member of
the chapter of the Cathedral of Old Machar —
ranking as fifth prebend.^ The change was made
by Bishop Alexander Kinninmond, the second of
that name, through the intervention of " Master
John of Pebles.""

The following interesting particulars concerning
the old church are given in Logan's MS. Notes*

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, I., pp. 274-75.

I. Ibid, p. 275.

3. Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, I., p. 6.

4. Orem's Old Aberdeen, p. 128.

5. Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, II., p. 253.

* It is here stated that the parish " is usually called Drumoak,
probably from Drum the neighbouring estate — a term that has long
applied to the parish, but the proper name is ' Dalmaek,' i.e., the

Parish Church. yy

" The Church is situated close to the river Dee,
on a point formed by a small brook, running on the
north-east side, and this stream forms the march be-
tween Dalmaek and Peterculter, the kirk standing,
like many other old structures, at the extreme
east corner of the parish, so that the kirk road is
even carried through the parish of Peterculter for
some way. Nine ploughs of Dalmaek are in Kin-
cardineshire.

Near the Church is a well of excellent water,
called ' Maek's Well,' from the patron saint. A
place must have existed here from a very early
period. . . .

In 1576 the ' Parsonage of Dalmaek' was valued
at ;^33 6s. 8d.

In 1630 ' Drummaock' belonged to the Bishop-
rick of Aberdeen.

The Church appears to be very old, 56 feet
broad and 18 feet 10 inches wide. The belfry is
raised on a projecting buttress carried up inside,
and terminating in a circular basement, on which

the bellhouse a later work, is built. Above

the west door is a small aperture surrounded by a
moulding apparently for the reception of a coat of
arms or inscription. At a corner or peatstone, on
the north side are the letters L . A. S.*

haugh of Moek, the Church having been dedicated to a saint so
called, who was the first Abbot of Port Moak in Kinross-shire."

* The north wall of the church was rebuilt and a new roof put on
during the incumbency of Rev. Alexander Scroggy, 1607-21. The
last two letters, above referred to, are his initials.

78 Drumoak.

Near the east end is a small recess, supposed to
have been for images, &c. Beside the western door
is seen the receptacle of the holy water, or rather a
portion only, for, as it projected, the stone is broken
off level to the wall.* The west door and that next
to the west end are arched inside, and we see how
the latter was secured, by a bar drawn from one
side and inserted in the opposite wall. The small
window in this part has been secured by iron bars,
as also has the one next the east end, which,
like most of those in that place, was enriched by
mouldings.

The north wall is a later erection than the other
parts. The height of the lateral walls — and they
are not so low as some — is lo feet 6 inches.

In both ends of the kirk are galleries which are
older than the other pews, but are plain. The
western rests on stone corbels in each wall, four on
the north and two on the south. The seat of the
Laird of Drum is opposite to the pulpit, and is
distinguished by a Baldachin or canopy supported
by square fluted pillars. The old pulpit, removed
when the church was furnished with new seats, is
now preserved by Mr. Paul, the worthy school-
master, who prays in it to his scholars morning and
evening. It is of simple design, with a square
canopy. Under it were found a skull and several
bones, believed to be the remains of a former

* The broken off stoup or basin for holy water, which is carved
with a grotesque head of Gothic character, is carefully preserved in
the chapel, Drum Castle.

Parish Church. 79

incumbent. Few of the old seats were ornamented.
The floor is rough causeway or laid with stone in
the passes.

The bell, which some years since was riven,
was sold to Mr. Walker, an ingenious person in
Skene, at whose death it was purchased by a
gentleman in Buchan. The old communion cups
were described ... as having been shallow
and broad like a small plate, with projecting
handle. A sand-glass is used.

In the west wall of the churchyard is a rude
and apparently very ancient column, on which is
placed a sun-dial, repaired by the present school-
master, and bearing the date, 1723. The church-
yard walls were repaired in 1683, the minister
having promised the Session to renew the stiles at
his own expense, if they would build the dykes
sufficiently. These dykes are only dry stone,
about breast high, and are now in sad ruin, although
Mr. Fraser made an offer similar to his predecessor.

The weird of this kirk is that it will fall in time
of worship.

The register of births commences 1692, and is
entitled ' The Session Book of Drumoak, begune
this third day of January, 1692, vox audita peret
littera scripta manet!

We find a list of about twenty persons buried
in the church. 'April 14th, 1744, being Saturday,
Mr. William Shanks, Minister at Brichen, and son
of Shanks of Drumoak, was buried in the

kirk.'

8o Drumoak.

Mr. Shanks, whose monumental inscription is
now-illegible, was buried on the 8th March, 1749.
Ten merks was the sum paid for a burial within the
church.

The register of marriages begins anno 171 5.

Ten merks were formerly paid to the Session
for permission to place a layerstone or slab in the
churchyard ; it has now been augmented to One
pound sterling. About 140 years ago the kirk
beadle made complaint to the minister and elders,
that people came by night from other parishes and
opened graves to themselves, by which he was
deprived of his just fees. At this time those who
were not parishioners were obliged to purchase the
ground, but there is now a part called ' the strangers'
ground ' set apart for their use.

About the same time some persons, having met
at Canaglerach, a farm near the hill of Fare, in the
north west extremity of the parish, became very
jovial in the course of the evening, and drank a
bumper to the health of the devil. For this they
were sharply dealt with by the Session . . .

There is no register of burials kept, but the
gravedigger inters about ten parishioners annually.

All are of the Established religion but one Epis-
copalian family . . . ."^

In 1 33 1, Alexander, bishop of Aberdeen, gave
the kirk land of " Dulmaoch and Petbracher" next
the forest of Drum, with the right of pasturage in

I. Logan's MS. Notes.

Parish ChurcJi.

the common in the forest, to William Irvine, or
Irwyn, for yearly payment of Forty-six shillings
and eight pence sterling.^ In 1452, Irwyn's de-
scendants resigned these lands into the hands of
Bishop " Ingeram."^ Difficulties, however, seem to
have arisen as to the legal rights of parties, but
these were settled on nth February, 1492, by the
following judgment : — " The lordis of consale de-
crettis and deliueris that Alexander Irwin sail decist
and cess fra the occupacioun and manurin of the
landis of Dulmaok and Petbrechare to be broikit and
manurit be a reuerend faider in God William
Bischop of Abirdene and his tenentis."^

The glebe, which in 1790 extended to about
five acres arable and the same in rough pasture,
was subsequently enlarged by a gift from the pro-
prietor of Culter of a piece of ground in mortmain
to the minister, but, in 1836, when a new manse
was erected, the old glebe was excambed for a new
one of about twenty-eight acres.*

The present church, which is a neat Gothic
structure from designs by the late Archibald
Simpson, architect, Aberdeen, was founded in the
spring of 1835, and opened for divine service on
the 13th November, 1836. It has 630 sittings, and
stands in the corner of a field about a mile to the
north-west of the former church.

1. Registrum Aberdonensis, I., pp. 52, 53.

2. Ibid, p. 271.

3. Acta Dominorum, p. 280.

4. New Statistical Account of Aberdeenshire, p. 896.
G

82 Drumoak.

The stipend in 1792 was returned at £1^ ys. gd.,
with 28 bolls of meal.i jj- jg j^q^ stated at ;^i82
per annum.

The communion utensils consist of two silver
cups dated 1787, two silver cups dated 1840
(presented by Miss Irvine of Drum), two pewter
plates without date, but probably made in 1787,
one silver-plated tankard dated 1885, and four
gilded plates added in 1885.^

MINISTERS.

1407. Alexander de Kynloch, Prebendary.^
1457. Alexander Vaus, Prebendary,* with John
de Kynloch as Vicar,"

1483. Sir William Donaldson, Vicar. ^ His ser-
vices were frequently requisitioned in disputes
regarding estate boundaries. He was witness to
an Instrument of Sasine in connection with the
property of Durris.^

1499. George Johnston or Johnsone, Prebendary.*^
1 5 18. John Galloway, Prebendary."

1. Old Statistical Account of Scotland, III., p. 316.

2. Session Records, &c.

3. Regist. Capell, p. 66.

4. Collections, Aberdeen and Banff, p. 347.

5. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff", III., p. 298.
6 and 7. Ibid., III., pp. 123, 233, 243, &c.

8. Fasti Aberdonenses, pp. 29-47.

9. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff", II., p. 365.

Ministers. 83

1540. William Hay, Rector.^ Hay, who was a
native of Forfarshire, was educated at Paris, where
he for some time taught philosophy. He returned
to Scotland along with Hector Boece on receiving
an appointment as one of the regents of King's
College, Aberdeen. Besides being a professor in
the college, he held the rectorship of Drumoak,
also the sub-principalship of the university, and
on the death of Boece, in 1536, became principal.^

1 541. Robert Lockhart, Vicar, -^

1560. Thomas Hay, Rector.* He was one of
the attesting witnesses to a deed, by the master
of Erroll, ratifying the marches between the lands
of Ardlethen and those of Chapeltown and Old-
mill of Esslemont.

1566. Cuthbert Reid, Rector. ^

1 567. Arthur Forbes,^ Minister of " Echt, Kem-
nay and Dilmaok," with George Eraser and Alex-
ander Gerard as Readers, at a salary of 20 lib.
each.'

1574- John Graham, Minister, having " Myd-
mar, Kynarny, and Peterculter" also in charge.^
The Minister had a stipend of ;^8o us. i^d. scots,
along with the kirk lands, and Alexander Gerard

1. Fasti Aberdonenses, p. 114, &c.

2. Anderson's Scottish Nation, I., p. 335, &c.

3. Regist. Capell, p. 100, and Necrol, p. 22.

4. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff", III., p. 20.

5. Ibid, III., p. 381.

6. Collections, Aberdeen and Banff, I., p. 227.

7. Ibid, p. 229.

8. Jervise's Epitaphs, II., p. 81.

84 Drumoak.

continued as Reader at the salary of 20 lib. scots,
which was paid by the Minister.^
1598. Richard Ross removed from Peterculter
and admitted at Drumoak on 20th October, 1598.
He was appointed, loth August, 1599, to teach
at Peterculter every third Sunday, which duty he
renounced, 3rd July, 1601. Being examined on
ist April, 1603, he satisfied "not the brither, and
therefor was admonished to give himselff to a
greater diligence in studie," and was further en-
joined " to understand quhat he teaches befor he
delyvered it." He was admonished again, 15th
July succeeding, " to keep his house and buik
better than he had done hitherto." He was ac-
cused 15th June, 1604, of having "past to the
pulpit to preiche rashlie, but (without) medita-
tioun, and that his doctrine was not formall, ather
for the comfort nor for the edifeing of sic ane
notable congregatioun."- Admonished again, 3rd
August thereafter, " to reside thairat with his wiffe
and bairns," and twelve days later admitted a
Burgess of Aberdeen. He was suspended, 13th
October, 1605, for celebrating a marriage in viola-
tion of the rules of the Church, and deposed, 14th
March, 1606, for " unsufficiency and also for the
delapidation of his benefice" by giving a tack for
three years of the vicarage to his brother Gilbert,
without the special consent of the kirk.^

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, II., p. 366.

2. Presbytery Records.

3. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 496, and Presbytery Records.

Ministers. 85

1607. Alexander Scroggy translated from Skene
and inducted 26th January, 1607. He was ordained
on 7th March following " to make his residence at
the kirk." It was stated in July of the same year that
" he teaches very learnetlie, and alwayes wold apply
himselfif to the capacitie of the commoun people " ;
he was " ordained to reside at the kirk how sune he
might" ; and was approved in all things, 13th
March, 1609, except non-residence "quhilk he
afifirmit he did in respect that his familie was
actuallie resident at the kirk, and himselff everrie
Saturday, Sunday, and Munondaye, and is the rest
of the week occupyit in the College." Notwith-
standing, " he was ordeanit to leave the College at
Lambas, and actualie reside himselfif with his wyf
and family." In 1621 he was translated to Old
Machar, and in July, 1627, had D.D. from the
University and King's College. He joined the
other Aberdeen Doctors in opposing the Covenant,
and gave further grave offence by dispensing com-
munion at Christmas 1638, notwithstanding its
having been forbidden by the preceding General
Assembly. He was deposed on ist August, 1640,
but, a pension having been granted him by the
King, " he lived privatt till his death, which was at
Rathven, anno 1659, in the ninety-fifth year of his
age."^ He is described by Gordon as " a man,
sober, grave, and painefull in his calling," and by
Baillie as " ane old man, not verie corrupt, yet
perverse in the Covenant and Service-book."

I. Scott's Fasti, Presbytery Records, «S:c.

86 Drunioak.

1622. John Gregory, son of James Gregory,
saddler, and Burgess of Aberdeen, appointed
minister and ordained accordingly. Refusing to
sign the Covenant he fled to England in June
1639, but returned shortly afterwards. On 2nd
June of the following year, he " wes brocht in
to Monro be ane pairtie of soldiouris " having been
" takin out of his naikit bed vpone the nicht, and
his hous pitefullie plunderit." He was kept a close
prisoner for some time, and at last " fynit to pay
generall Maior Monro 1000 merks for his out-
standing aganis the Covenant, and syne gat libertie
to go. But in the generall assemblie holdin in
July, he was neuertheless simplicetir deprivit." He
was reponed, however, in 1641, again deposed in
1649, and died in 1652, He married Janet,
daughter of David Anderson of Finzead, Their
son James was the inventor of the reflect-
ing telescope and Professor of Mathematics
in the University of St. Andrews and Edin-
burgh. ^

1652. Andrew Ballenden was charged before the
October meeting of Synod with having " entered
into the exerceiss of the ministerie in the kirk of
Drummoack, being a deposed minister," He con-
fessed that he had done the same "by warrand
from thie Englishers, in respect he was upon the
independent and congregationall course " ; and on
signing an acknowledgment to that effect, and

I. Scott's Fasti., &c.

Ministers. 87

undertaking to deport himself " from this
countrey," was dismissed.^

1654. David Lindsay, who was appointed minister
during this or the preceding year, was deprived in
1 68 1 for refusing to take the oath and test imposed
by Parliament. -

1682. David Lindsay, Junior, son of the preceding,
ordained in the middle of summer of this year and
died 1 6th June, 1691.

1 69 1. David Lindsay, Elder, re-entered 21st June,
received into Communion by a Committee of the
General Assembly, 20th June, 1694, and died 29th
September, 1702, aged ^6.^

1703. Alexander Shank, ordained 4th August.
Two years later he married Elizabeth Burnett, in
the parish of Banchory-Ternan, by whom he had
a large family. Of the sons, Alexander became
minister of Arbuthnott, and William minister of
Brechin. A tombstone in the wall of the old Church,
which is now much defaced, bore that Mr. Shank
died on 6th March, 1749, aged 73 years.* It
may be stated that the present representative of
this minister of Drumoak traces his descent from
one Murdoch Shank, who, it is said, found the
body of King Alexander IIL among the cliffs at
Kinghorn. For this service it is also stated that
Murdoch received a gift of the lands of Castlerig

1. Ecclesiastical Records of Aberdeen, pp. 222-3.

2. Scott's Fasti.

3. Ibid, p. 497, Session Records, &c.

4. Logan's MS. Notes, Session and Presbytery Records.

88 Drumoak.

near Kinghorn, which estate has descended from
father to son in the family of Shanks of Castlerig
up to the present day, a period of nearly 600
years. ^

1750. John Glennie ordained loth January, 1750,
and translated to Maryculter, June, 1763.2
1764. Alexander Rose licensed by the Presbytery
of Aberdeen in 1761, and ordained 9th May,
1764. Translated to Auchterless in 1774, he
died on 7th December, 18 10, in his 84th year.'*
1775' John Fullerton licensed by the Presbytery of
Fordoun, ordained 17th August, 1775, and died
27th May, 1785. His tombstone bears that " by in-
struction, persuasion, and an edifying example of
piety, humility, and probity, he uniformly laboured
to win the hearts of his flock to the love and
practice of pure and undefiled religion." He
married Isabel Rose, by whom he had issue two
sons, Alexander and Hugh, the latter of whom
passed as an advocate in Aberdeen.*
1786. James Fraser licensed by the Presbytery of
Aberdeen, and ordained 15th June, 1786. He
received the degree of D.D. from the University
and King's College, Aberdeen, in 1796, and died
31st January, 1828, in his 73rd year.''
1826. Adam Corbet, son of William Corbet of

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 292.

2. Session Records and Separate Register of Presbytery.

3. Ibidy and Scott's Fasti, VI., pp. 498-651.

4. Session Records, Separate Register of Presbytery, &c.

5. Ibid.

Session Records. 89

Bieldside, licensed by the Presbytery of Aberdeen
in December, 1821, and ordained as assistant and
successor to Dr. Fraser, 27th July, 1826. He
received the degree of D.D. from the University
and King's College, Aberdeen, in May, 1864.
He married Christian Blaikie, sister of the late Sir
Thomas Blaikie of Aberdeen who survives him.
He died on nth October, 1876.^
1877. George Innes Sim, who had been ordained
by the Presbytery of Aberlour as assistant to the
Minister of Glenlivet, on 26th June, 1872, was
inducted, at Drumoak on 15th March, 1877. He
was released, at his own request, in February, 1883,
on receiving an appointment in the Presbyterian
Church of Victoria.-
1883. Charles Mackie, ordained loth May, 1883.^

SESSION RECORDS.

These Records, comprising ten volumes in an
excellent state of preservation, commence of date
loth September, 1682, and run on consecutively to
the present time, the only hiatus being from 4th
August, 1872, to 20th April, 1873. The matter
contained in the records is so interesting, and
throws so much light upon the extent and methods

1. Separate Register of Presbytery.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

90 Dnimoak.

of ecclesiastical jurisdiction of former times, that it
is proposed to give the following extracts, which
have been classified under different headings, for
greater convenience,

OFFENCES.

1683 Sept. 30th — James Burnett and Margaret
Steelhouse confessed that they were absent
from Church, but alledged that they went to
see friends which were dangerouslie ill, and

- that they went in the morning and stayed
with them all day till night, whereupon they
were found faultie in absenting themselves
from the publick ordinances without more
urgent causes, and therefore were ordained to
be rebuked.

1684 May 1 8th — William Steven satisfied for
having upon his knees prayed a malediction
to John Duncan, his wife, children and bestiall.

— July 20th — James Henderson being charged
with striking and abusing Janet Cushnie,
and with cursing and speaking disdainfullic
of the Minister and Session, compeared
and confessed that he took Janet by
her plaid to take it from her while she was
tending her neighbour's bestiall upon his
grass and eating it up, but denyed that he
cursed and swore as far as he knew. The
Session finding no clear probation of what
was alleged against James, did ordain him

Session Records. 91

upon what he had acknowledged to appear
before the congregation and humble himself
on his knees for the said scandal, and the said
Janet was forbidden to go upon his grass
with her neighbour's bestiall thereafter, to
avoid further trouble.

1685 February 8th — Isobel Thompson ordered to
appear before the Session to answer for
absenting herself from the diets of examina-
tion.

— June 7th — William Bizzat compeared, and
having been formerly fined 40s. for his
scandalous profanation of the Lord's Day by
beating his servant and disturbing his family
under silence of the night, he now undertook
to pay other los., for which the Session did
acquit him.

1686 October 17th — Arthur Bizzat compeared and
confessed his unseasonable and excessive
drinking upon the Lord's Day, for which, and
for his absence from the church on that day
(without any excuse), he was ordered to
appear before the pulpit and acknowledge his
fault.

1689 March 17th — Isobell Anderson ordered to go
to Culsalmond where she had resided former-
lie, and bring a testimoniall or else to remove
out of this parish, which she promised to do.

— April 7th — John Milne being summoned
severall tymes to appear before the Session,
did appear this day, and engaged under the

92 Drumoak.

penaltie of Six pounds, to cause Isobell
Andersone, now in his service, to produce a
testimonial!, or to remove her from his service
within a fourtnight after the terme.

1689 Sept. 22nd — Elspet Walker gave in a com-
plaint against Marjorie Reid, that she had
cursed her on the Lord's Day, and ordinarlie
on the week day, and did abuse her by
miscalling her in such an unworthie manner
as is not fit to be named, which the said
Marjorie Reid denyed.

— Sept, 29th — Marjorie Reid and the witnesses
adduced against her were called and admitted
by her, who being sworn and examined de-
clared all unanimouslie that they heard her
cursing and scolding her neighbours on the
Lord's Day, for which she was appointed to
appear before the pulpit in sackcloth the next
Lord's Day, and to come and speak to the
Minister at his own house.

1690 April 20th — Marjory Reid not having sub-
mitted and satisfied for her scandal of cursing
and scolding on the Lord's Day, was excom-
municated with the lesser sentence.

— August loth — William Cowper appeared for
the third time upon the penitentiall seat ; but,
not behaving as a penitent, was not absolved,
but ordered to appear before the Session, and
also before the congregation another day, and
to behave more suitablie, which he absolutely
refused to do, alledging that he had appeared

Session Records. 93

three Sabbaths. [Not obeying these orders
Cowper was afterwards prosecuted before the
Presbytery, when he went off as a soldier.]

1691 Aug. 26th — Patrick Jamieson compeared and
confessed to his shearing his corns on the
Sabbath night, alledging that his corns were
in danger, and this not being deemed a
relevant excuse ... he was enjoined to
appear before the pulpit, and to humble him-
self upon his knees before the congregation
whom he had stumbled by his evill example.

1695 June 30th — Alexander Collie and his daugh-
ter compeared confessing their scandalous
and unnatural beating of one another the last
Sabbath, when their nolt were eating on the
grasse, and throwing stones and clodds at one
another. They were ordered to satisfie before
the pulpit with certification, that in case they
should fall into such horrid extravagancies
on the Lord's Day, they should be both fyned
in Ten pounds scots besides the church
censure.

1697 Sept. 5th — James Baxter delated Elspet
Tailour for contracting marriage with an
infamous and scandalous person.
— December 26th — Alexander Nicol,' Adulterer,
having appeared now for the nynth time, and
now humbling himself on his knees and
publickly acknowledging his heinous trans-
gression to God's Glorie and his own shame,
was absolved.

94 Dnimoak.

1698 August 28th — John Sherret delated as guilty
of Sabbath breaking by carrying fire on his
horse to Aberdeen, ordered to be summoned.

17CX) January 7th — John, Alexander, James, and
Robert Duncans committed a great and grev-
ious scandall by immediatelie after coming
out from divine exercise, in the churchyard,
violentlie pursuing, invading, and beating
Alexander Cushny, servant to Master John
Couts, to the effusion of his blood,, whereby
great dishonour was given to God and offence
to the whole congregation, which thing the
Minister was to delate to the Presbytery.

1 70 1 April 27th — John Duncan delated for yoking
his oxen on the Lord's Day, and he and his
servants ordered to be summoned. [Sub-
sequently compearing and confessing, they
were ordered to satisfy before the congreg-
ation.]

— Oct. 26th — Alexander Spalding and his wife
appeared before the congregation in sackcloth,
and confessing their sin of slandering were
absolved.

1704 May 28th — Elders desired to take special
notice of those who haunted taverns upon the
Sabbath day, or who go to vage through the
fields, and to delate them to the Session.

1705 March 25th — John Taylor appointed to ap-
pear on the pillory in sackcloth for having
drunken the Devil's health.

— April 1st — Alexander Gray and James

Session Records. 95

Henry appeared before the pulpit and con-
fessed their sin of having taken a fish near to
the church on the Sabbath day.

1705 June 3rd — Helen Aikin guilty of repeated
acts of uncleanness and prevarications, con-
sidered incapable of church censure. All
converse with her ordered to be avoided, till
it should please God to break in upon her
heart.

1707 Feby 9th — James Henry appeared on the
pillory and was absolved from the scandal of
taking a goad out of a house, as he went home
from church on a recent Sunday.

1 7 19 Oct. 1 8th — Alexander Leith appeared and
was rebuked for cursing and praying male-
dictions against William Marr and his family.

1757 June 19th — Salmond fishers again warned
to abstain from that impious custom of fish-
ing upon the Sabbath day, else they would
be prosecuted.

1758 October 22nd — John Nicol and Margaret
Lumsden compeared and confessed to having
got clandestinely married to each other in
Edinburgh. They were fined four pounds
scots as also the ordinary dues to the Precentor
and Officer.

1788 July 13th— Charles Reid the Church Officer
having caused much scandal by treating his
wife cruelly was today reproved by the
Session and warned that if the like occurred
again he would be dismissed instanter.

96 Drumoak.

INTIMATIONS, SPECIAL SERVICES, and REMARKABLE
EVENTS.

1683 Sept. 9th — Thanksgiving observed for his
Majesties deliverance from the late unnatural
conspiracie.

1684 Jan. 27th — No Session this day by reason of
the excessive coldness of the weather.

— Feb. 20th — This day there was no publick
convention, the day being extraordinarlie
stormie by snow drift and deep wreathes.

— May 4th — Fast intimated for the sins of the
land, for which God had been threatening to
alter the seasons of the year by the late
violent and long continued storm and frost.

1685 'Feb. 15th — Intimation made of a sermon of
regrate to be preached here the next Lords
Day upon the arrivall of the sad and lament-
able newes of the death of our late Gracious
Soveraigne K. Charles the Second of ever
blessed memorie who departed this life upon
the Sixth day of Februarie 1685, at noon-
day— that is 55 th of age and 36th of reign.

1687 July i7th^Order read against the harbouring
'and maintaining of sturdie beggars and
vagabonds, and that the poor of the parish
must be maintained by the parochiners.

— Oct. 2nd — Act against slanderers, etc., read
from pulpit by command.

Sessiofi Records. 97

1687 Oct. 9th — Fast intimated in respect of the
dismall and dangerous season of the year, the
corns being greatlie endangered by the
continuall and excessive rains.

1688 Feb. 1 2th — Thanksgiving intimated for the
appearance of the increase of the Royal
succession by the Queen's being with child.

— June 24th — Thanksgiving intimated for the
birth and nativity of the serene and high
born prince, the prince and Stewart of
Scotland.

— Sept. 9th — There having been a loud wind
on Weddensday last, the 5th inst., and this
day, in the morning, great thunderings with
rain, the Minister preached specially.

— Oct. 14th — Proclamation made against the
importing, selling, distributing, or having for-
bidden books such as Lex Nex, Naphtali,
Buchanan's de Jure Regni, a Cup of Cold
Water, the Hynd Let Loose, &c.

1689 March 24th — In respect of the coldness and
prodigious frostiness and unkyndliness of the
season of the year the Minister preached
upon Micah 6, 9.

— Sept. 15 th — Fast intimated for the sins of the
land and faillings of all sorts of people.

1690 June 29th — Fast intimated for a happie
successe upon his Majestie King William's
forces in Ireland, being gone thither in person
for the reducing that Kingdom, subduing the
Irish Popish rebells now in armes, and

H

98 Drumoak.

preserving the Protestant Religion, and for
the famine threatened by a prodigious
scorching, long continued drought, whereby
the fruits of the ground were in danger to be
scorched and consumed.
1690 Aug. loth — Fast intimated for his Majestie's
good success against the Papists in Ireland,
and for the discoverie and defeating of their
grievous plots and designs against the
Protestant Religion.

— Aug, 1 2th — The foresaid day of Thanks-
giving was observed, but the countrie being
in a fright and the Highland armie lying at
Aberdeen, the Congregation was verie in-
frequent. The Minister nevertheless preached.

— Aug. 17th — No collection this day, the Con-
gregation being allarmed and dispersed
before the end of Divine Service with the
report of the Highland armies lying at
Banchorie.

1694 Dec. 1 6th — Minister preached upon the
occasion of the great mortalitie in the land
and the sudden death of an honest man in
this parish.

1695 Jan. 20th — Solemn fast and humiliation inti-
mated for the lamentable death of Queen
Mary.

1699 May 28th — Intimation made of an order that
no stranger reside in the parish without a
sufficient tes'tificate from the parioch they
formerlie resided in, that thereby all scandal-

Session Records. 99

ous persons might be shunned and kept out
of the Parioch.

1 701 Sept 28th — Order made prohibiting all penny
Bridells, as also all pyping and fidling to be
made use at publick meetings under certain
penalties.

1705 July 28th — Sacrament intimated and parish-
ioners ordered to come up before 8 o'clock in
the morning.

1709 June 5th — Fast intimated for the unseason-
ablenes of the weather and the great loss of
flocks and cattell, and many spirituall plagues
in all ranks.

— July 24th — Act made prohibiting marriages
between Protestants and Papists.

1 7 16 June 3rd — Thanksgiving intimated for sup-
pression of the late unhappy rebellion.

1 7 17 March 17th — Fast intimated on account of
the projected invasion and the obstinate
design of a popish faction to bring in the
Pretender.

1 741 July 1 2th — Fast intimated upon account of the
scarcity and famine, and the Spanish war.

1745 Feb. 3rd — No lecture nor sermon, the day
being so stormy that no person could come
forth.

1764 Aug. 26th — No afternoon sermon, the
Minister being tender,

1765 Sep. 22nd — No sermon today, the Minister
being in a fever.

lOO Drumoak.

1766 Jan. 1 2th — No sermon, the Minister being

bad.
177 1 June 2nd — Congregation exhorted not to

give in bad copper in their collections.
1805 Dec. 1st. — Thanksgiving intimated for the

naval victory at Trafalgar.

LAWS AND ENACTMENTS.

1682 Oct. 1st — Enacted that no person be sessioned
but on Munday, unless by paying in a pound
to the box.

1683 May 29th — The convention being very small
the Elders that were present were called, and
after prayer the Minister did signifie to them
his dissatisfaction at the infrequencie of the
day's convention. Surely it might have been
expected that at least all masters of families
would have been present at such solemn
meetings and occasions ! And, therefor, it was
enacted this day that every master of a
familie that should be found absent from the
parish at such solemn occasions, either
Sabbath day or week day, without a lawful
excuse, should be beehawed in 20s. scots, and
this to be intimated.

1685 April 19th — The Minister representing to the
Elders that severalls before had fallen into
fornication before their marriage and were

Session Records. loi

not tymeouslie discovered and delated not-
withstanding that there were flying reports in
the countrie of their scandalous behaviour.
Therefore, for the better and more tymous
discoverie thereof in tymes coming (if anie
happen) it is appointed and enacted this day
that none shall be contracted in marriage or
sessioned unless they acquaint the Minister
before, on Saturday or Sunday morning at
farthest, to that effect that the Elders may be
called and enquiries severallie made of their
behaviour . . .

1685 Aug. 30th — Act passed for the heightening
of the penalties of fornicators from 4 libs, to
5 libs, in respect of the increase of the said
sin, and the better to defray the wages of
church servants.

1688 Sept. 2nd — The Elders being called, the
Minister did represent that to the great
scandall of the Congregation some Elders
(who ought to give good example to others)
were found to be frequently absent from the
Church, both they and their wives. There-
fore, to remedie this, the Minister thought fit
that an old act of this session should be
renewed, that in tyme coming whatsoever
Elder and his wife should be found to be
both absent from the Church together
(without a lawfull excuse) shall for the first
fault receive a sessionall rebuke, for the
second, make an acknowledgment before the

102 Drumoak.

Session, and for the third fault be deprived of
their office, which all the Elders present did
accord to as most reasonable.

As also it being found scandalous and
offensive to neighbour Congregations that
severall persons in this parish had contracted
marriage too soon after the death of their
wives and husbands, it is, therefore, enacted
that hereafter no person, man or woman,
shall be permitted to contract marriage till a
quarter of a year expires after the decease of
their respective spouses unless they pay in
4 libs to the box, and this act to be
intimated.

1699 April 1 6th — Complaint given in by the
Elders against the generallitie of the people
that they were become so unchristian and
unhuman as would not so much as help to
the churchyard with the dead bodies of poor
persons who were daylie dying before them —
being invited thereto. Which scandall and
unchristianitie the Minister did sharply
reprehend from Pulpit, holding out the
dangers of pestilence (which God in his
mercy prevent !), and warning that hereafter
those refusing to attend a buriall when
invited should not only be lyable to Church
censure, but punishment before the Civill
Magistrates.

1776 May 30th — Resolution passed that the seats
in the new loft shall now be let at the

Session Records. 103

following reduced rents : — Each seat in the
first pew to be eightpence, in the second
sixpence, to the third fivepence, and the two
last fourpence.

CHURCHYARD LAWS, &c.

1683 March 14th — The Minister did represent the
ruinous condition of the kirkyard dykes to
the Elders, who (as formerlie) professed them-
selves most willing to look to the repairing
thereof immediately, and to contribute their
utmost .... by dividing it equallie
among the ploughs of the parish, which
afterwards was done and very fullie and
sufificientlie repaired. As for the churchyard
style, the Minister promised to see to the
repairing thereof himself

— May 29th — The Officer, John Steven, did
give in a complaint against some persons
both within and without the parish who came
privatlie with their burialls and broke up the
ground in the churchyard [as] they pleased
not acquainting him, and buried their dead
out of purpose to frustrate him of his
accustomed wages . . . This being found
to be a dangerous thing in respect of their
not knowing the graves, and likewise most
unhandsome and disorderlie, the Session

104 Drumoak.

ordains that in all time coming anie person,
either within or without the parish, that have
any dead to burie, whether children or
persons of riper age, shall acquaint the Church
Officer therewith the night before, or at least
with as reasonable time before as will suffice
to make the grave in the proper place, that he
may attend and do his work, and receive his
wages therefor, certifying all those who shall
fail to do so . . . that they shall be
lyable to pay into the poors box 40s., and to
pay the Church Officer the double of that
which formerlie they should have payed, and
in case of their refusall to pay they are to be
pursued legally therefor.
1685 May 31st — Considering that severall people
who buried their deceased relatives in this
parish were verie slow and lazie in paying in
the money due for their buriall places, and
som did altogether neglect to pay it.
Enacted that none shall have entrie into the
Church or be permitted to breake ground till
first they either pay in the money or find
sufficient securitie.

COLLECTIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS, &c.

1686 July 1 8th — Collection intimated for the relief
of a distressed French gentleman, a Protestant

Session Records. 105

who had fled from the furie of the persecution
there, and was now at Aberdeen.

1690 April 26th — Given 28s. scots for a winding
sheet to a man who had drowned in the
water of Dee, and was by Providence casten
in to land in this parish and buried here.

1691 October 25 — Given 20s. scots to a distressed
Scotsman who had been robbed by the Irish
robbers.

1692 Dec. 4th — Collected 5 libs. 9s. to the French
and Irish Protestants.

1695 March 17th — Collected 20s., which was pre-
sently given to a poor merchant, a persecuted
Protestant from Poland.

— Sept. ist — Collected for the harbour of Cullen
five merks.

1700 April 7 — Collected for helping to repair the
harbour of Kinghorn 14s. scots.

1704 Feb. 13 — Collected i lib. 4s. in favour of
John Thomson, who was taken by an Al-
gerian Man-of-VVar, and sold for a slave.

1706 August 1 8th — Given six shillings to a poor
woman who had borne nine children at three
births.

1707 Jan. 19th — Collected eleven shillings scots for
rebuilding the tolbooth and steeple of the
burgh of Tain.

1709 June 26th — Collected forty four shillings scots
for helping to build a church in London for
the Germans of the Calvinistic profession.

io6 Dnimoak.

1726 Aug. 28th — Ten pennies given to one Dun-
can, a broken merchant in Aberdeen.

1762 March nth — Collected £(^ is. pd, for training
up Irish Students to be preachers in the
Highlands of Scotland where there are 9000
who have little access for hearing a minister.

1769 Nov. 19th — Collected for the building of
Gilcomston Church 12 pounds scots.

1772 Nov. 1st — Collected only four pence halfpenny
the day being tempestuous,

1805 March 3rd — Paid 8s. 6d. for a strait waistcoat
to one Elizabeth Fullerton, deprived of her
reason.

1815 Sept. 3rd — Collected ;^6 los. for the benefit
of the wounded and children and wives of
those slain in the battle of Waterloo.

Peterculter. 107

PETERCULTER.

THIS parish, which originally included the
lands of Maryculter on the opposite side of
the river, was for long known by the name of
Culter, but having had its church dedicated to Saint
Peter it gradually came to be called Peterculter.
The latter part of the name is said to be derived
from the Gaelic compound word Qil-tir, which
signifies the back part of the country, and would
correctly apply to a considerable portion of the
land on both sides of the Dee.

By an order dated 26th November, 1 890, of the
Boundary Commissioners, under the Local Govern-
ment (Scotland) Act, 1889, the parish had added to
it the whole of the Aberdeenshire portion of
Banchory-Devenick,and certain detached portions of
lands common to both parishes, extending together
to about two thousand three hundred and seventy-
four acres, and embracing the estates of Murtle,
Cults, and Pitfodels, with their respective sub-
divisions : but as these have been treated of in the
History of Banchory- Devenick, they receive no
further notice in this volume. With these additions,
Peterculter now extends from the boundaries of the
city of Aberdeen on the east, to the boundaries of
Drumoak on the west, a distance of at least eight
miles. The river Dee forms the southern boundary

io8 Peterailter.

of the parish, with the exception of the Insch of
Culter which is in Kincardineshire, having been
detached through the river, when in flood many
years ago, changing its natural course.

The parish is rich in prehistoric remains, which
are worthy of the special attention of skilled anti-
quarians. In the moor and woods of Countesswells
are numerous tumuli or cairns, which, however,
have not yet been explored. A Druidical temple
in the plantation on Binghill was carefully en-
closed by Mr. Watson, a former proprietor of
that property. Near to it is a large cairn, tra-
ditionally stated to have been the burying-place
of the Irvine family, who at an early period
owned the lands. In the end of last century, dur-
ing the digging up of the foundation of some old
walls said to have been part of the mansion house
of the Irvine family, there was found a handful of
silver coins about the size of sixpences, and \x\-
scnh^d Davidus Rex.^ There is a stone circle on
the farm of Eddiestone ; also a single rude stone
pillar (the remains of another circle), on the farm
of Milltimber.-

The most interesting relic, is the old camp or
military work, which, however, has been almost
eradicated by the agricultural improvements of the
present century. Describing it the writer of the old
Statistical Account of Scotland says, " Betwixt
Oldtown and Hilltown lies a heath. On the north-

1. Statistical Account of Scotland, XVI., p. 364-65.

2. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 19.

Peterculter. 109

west side of it, a wall and ditch run from north-east
to south-west, about three-quarters of a mile along
the slope of the hill," and from each end of this wall,
and almost at right angles to it, "ramparts have
been carried south-east towards the river Dee,
which is about a mile distant from the angular
points," but it is manifest that they had not been
carried all the way to the river. " It is probable
that there were then thickets and places of boscage
on the river side, and they might have cut down
trees to complete the barricade in these parts. At
the north-east and south-west angles, there had
been half-moon work constructed. The top of the
bank is in some places eight or nine feet above the
bottom of the ditch. In most places the height is
about six feet, but in the course of centuries, much
of the wall must have tumbled down, and much of
the ditch must have been filled up."^ The space
enclosed comprehended about forty-eight Scotch
acres, and being opposite to several fords of the
river was doubtless intended to cover these.
Various suggestions have been put forward as to
the origin of the work ; some writers asserting that
it had been thrown up by the Romans on one of
their northern military expeditions against the
Picts. Others argue that it is the site of Ptolemy's
Devana, but more accurate research has shown that
there is no foundation for such a statement. Some
conclude that it is Norman, and found upon the

I. Statistical Account of Scotland, XVI., pp. 380-81.

no Peterculter.

fact that tradition has handed down its name as
" Norman Dykes," that the lands adjacent are
called the " Norman Faughs," and that a well close
by the wall bears the title of the " Norman Well."^
A hollow close by is still called the " Bloody
Stripe," where it is traditionally said that a deadly-
battle was fought.

" Near the bridge over the Leuchar burn, at its
junction with the Gormack, are the remains of a
rampart, called the guard-dike. Tradition says that
a strong guard of armed men was stationed here to
prevent all communication between the sound and
the infected, while the plague raged in Aberdeen
and its environs in the middle of the seventeenth
century." -

Upon the top of rising ground known as the
Weather, or Wedder Craig, is the " Cupstone,"
indented in the shape of a bowl. It is commonly
called the Doupin' Stane, from the fact that when
the Magistrates of Aberdeen, in riding the outer
marches of the City, arrive at this point, the
old custom of doupin' the youngest burgess taking
part in the ceremony is carefully observed.

Tradition has preserved few legends of interest,
but the one regarding the Burn Treasure may be
worth recording. The Culter Burn, before it
reaches the Linn of Culter, runs through a romantic
hollow known as the Linn Pot, and it being
reported that there was hidden in this Pot a vast

1. Statistical Account of Scotland, XVI. pp. 380, 381.

2. Ibid, p. 377.

Peterculter. 1 1 1

store of silver, an old tenant of the farm of North
Linn, who was noted for his parsimony, was seized
with a strong desire to secure the treasure. His
farm being near the spot alleged to contain the
object of his greedy dreams, he stole out in the
darkness of a wintry night intending to dam the
river with beams of wood, and thus remove the
treasure from the black depths of the emptied
" Pot." While labouring with an energy sustained
by visions of gain, he was startled by the cry that
his farm was in flames, and rushed off to prevent
the destruction of his humble effects, before making
himself possessor of the precious metal. When he
returned, alas ! the dam had disappeared, and the
water was again rushing over the pool in which,
according to legend, the silver lies till this day.

When illicit distilling was rife in almost every
part of Scotland, the parish of Peterculter was
often the scene of sanguinary conflicts between
daring smugglers and vigilant excisemen. Many a
stirring tale could be told of struggles, seldom
bloodless, between these parties, neither of whom
were much afraid to meet death or take life. The
proximity of the district to the city inevitably
rendered it a frequent battle-ground between the
representatives of the law and the evaders of it.
As the great problem in smuggling was not so
much to succeed in making whisky as successfully
to dispose of it, the excisemen were ever careful to
keep a watchful eye on the immediately surround-
ing districts of the town, so as to intercept the

112 Peterculter.

smuggling bands on their way to the city, where
they found a ready sale for their illegal wares. As
Peterculter lay in the route of the western
smugglers it received a large amount of attention
from the officials of the excise.

One of the sharpest of smuggling encounters
took place not far from the eastern extremity of
the old parish. As it still lingers as one of the
exciting memories of the locality, and the spot
where it occurred is still pointed out with a certain
feeling of awe by those who remember to have
heard their fathers and mothers relate the story
around the glowing fire in the dark and stormy
nights of winter, it may not be unworthy of a place
in these Annals.

On a day in the early part of this century, a
band of smugglers from near Braemar set out on
their journey to Aberdeen, with a view to turning
into hard cash the liquid they had manufactured
during the previous month or two. They were ac-
companied by a considerable number of friends who
acted as scouts throughout the surrounding country
— for special vigilance was necessary as the cargo
was valuable, consisting, as it did, of no less than
ten cart loads of whisky. Their departure was
timed so that they might arrive at the outskirts of
the city under the darkness of night, for, while far
inland, the formidable smugglers were confident of
either escaping detection by the widely posted offi-
cers of the law, or of giving a quick and satisfactory
account of any feeble molesting parties. Near the

Peterculter. 113

city, however, where the excisemen were thickly-
stationed, and in numbers equal to coping with the
most numerous forces they were likely to encounter,
it was extremely advisable that every favouring
circumstance should be taken into account and
utilised. All went well till they came to Culter,
and here it seemed at first as if the powers of dis-
order were to lend their aid to the smugglers ; for
night fell black as death, and the thunder that had
been growling fitfully among the distant hills began
to roll in fearful grandeur over plain and valley. It
rained as if the windows of heaven were opened.
No eye could pierce the darkness beyond a finger
length, except when the lightning flashed for a
moment in the pitchy gloom, and lit up the awe-
struck, yet determined, faces of the wild men of the
hills. Surely only the direst necessity could bring
any living being out into this arena of Nature's
warfare. The superstitious Highlanders, though
awed by the sublimity of the spectacle, yet felt
strengthened by the belief that their passage into
the city would be a safe and easy one.

The advanced scouts had reached Stonegavel
Inn, where a bright light shining through the window
arrested their attention. Cautiously approaching,
they peered into the room, and there, with two pis-
tols on the table before him, sat one who was known
to almost every smuggler in the north, and whose
name was feared and hated wherever the fame of
his deeds of courage and daring had penetrated.
The awe inspired by the commotion of the elements
I

114 Peterculter.

was forgotten in presence of the fear of what this
stern solitary figure foreboded — for it was none
other than their relentless foe, Malcolm Gillespie.
They needed no complicated process of reasoning
to convince themselves that the myrmidons of the
fearless gauger were not far from the spot. In a
moment they were retracing their steps in eager
haste to warn the approaching company of their
danger. It was too late, however, for the gang
had reached the place where the gaugers were
concealed, and already the fray was hot and furious.
The smugglers had the advantage in numbers but
the disadvantage in arms, for their stout cudgels,
however heartily wielded, were no match for the
sabres of the excisemen. For long the battle
raged, the curses of the infuriated combatants, and
the howls and groans of the wounded being only
momentarily drowned in the crash of the thunder-
clap. The outnumbered gaugers speedily re-
inforced, and led on by their fierce commander,
fought with the tenacity and courage of demons,
while the sturdy Highlanders did not belie their
reputation for bravery and strength. At last, how-
ever, the smugglers were vanquished, and their
precious cargo, with the horses and the carts, were
left in the hands of the excisemen. Many on both
sides were seriously wounded, and at least one
smuggler was killed outright. Not so many years
ago one of the survivors of the gang used to
exhibit, with no small pride, the wound-mark of a
dagger that had been driven right through the

Estate of Culler. 115

palm of his hand by the redoubtable leader of the
excisemen himself.

Although compelled to denounce and condemn
without stint the nefarious trade of smuggling
with all its concomitant evils, one can scarcely
stifle a rising regret that all the time and labour of
these courageous men had only this deplorable
result. While giving the highest credit to the
officers of the law for their splendid pluck in the
exercise of a profession that gained them almost
universal detestation, and led them into constant
danger of their very lives, we feel supremely proud
and thankful that gallant bravery, such as that of
the smuggling men of the mist in the Culter affray
and others of its kind, has in other and later times
not merely given a theme to writers of parochial
history, but has been displayed in defence of the
dearest liberties of our country, and will for ever
remain among the annals of our national glory.

ESTATE OF CULTER.

Part of the lands of Culter belonged to Alan the
Durward, Justiciary of Scotland, but in 1247, Alex-
ander II. bestowed " Culter and Ardboik," as also
the lands of " Tulimaboythre," upon Robert, son of
Allan Wauchope.^

During the wars of the Scottish Independence

1. Nisbet's Heraldry, II., App. 56.

Il6 Peterculter.

the last-named family suffered severely — being not
only deprived of the office referred to, but having
certain of their estates confiscated to the Crown.
The name of Robert de Wauchope is included in
the list of Scotch barons who, in 1296, swore fealty
to Edward I. Soon afterwards Philip Cumin, son
of Jardine Cumin of Inverallochy, in the parish of
Rathen, a branch of the Earls of Buchan who bore
that name, married Marjory Wauchope, daughter
and heiress of Sir Adam Wauchope of Culter, In
this way the lands of Culter passed to the Cumins,
who continued in uninterrupted possession for about
four hundred years.

Philip Cumin was succeeded by his son William
Cumin, who would appear to have had the honour
of knighthood. He married Marjory, daughter of
James, Earl of Douglas. ^ His successors, of whom
a list of thirteen is given in " Nisbet's Heraldry,"
married into the best families in the country, and had
considerable influence in the north, although their
names do not appear prominently in the records
of the stirring events which took place prior to the
Union. They seem to have retained a proprietary
interest in the lands of Inverallochy till 1483, when
Alexander Cumin resigned these lands, together
with the castle and lake in the barony of Kyn-
edward," in favour of his uncle, Alexander Irvine
of Drum. Another branch of the Cumin family
got a grant of these lands immediately afterwards.

1. Nisbet's Heraldry, p. 56.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, IV., p. 130.

Estate of Culter. 117

In 1494 William Cumin, designed as of Inver-
allochy, was the pursuer in an action against Alex-
ander Cumin of Culter for the " wrangwis deten-
cioune and vvithaldin fra him of the malez and
proffites of the lands of the Heme and Drumquhirny"
(the Hern and Drumfrennie). Simultaneously
Archibald, Earl of Angus, was prosecuting the laird
of Culter on the same charge respecting the lands
of "' Arbady and Inchmerlach" (Arbeadie and
Inchmarlo).

In 1537 James Cumin of Culter was one of the
assize on the celebrated trial of the Master of
Forbes for treasonable conspiracy against the
King's life, and for plotting the destruction of the
Scotch army at Jedburgh ; and, in 1580, Archibald
Cumin, fiar of Culter, was also one of the assize on
the trial of Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh for the
murder of the Regent Moray.

During the sixteenth century the family seem
to have suffered heavy financial losses, while several
of the lairds were very extravagant and wasteful in
their living. Tradition asserts that the knight of
the period was present at Queen Mary's marriage,
and, in the procession which took place on that fes-
tive occasion, had his horse shod with silver shoes,
so slightly fastened on that, when he made the
animal caracole, the shoes fell off and were picked
up by the crowd. It is not surprising that in the
hands of one thus dominated by extravagant vanity,
the resources of the estate should have suffered
serious diminution.

Ii8 Peterculter.

Sir Alexander Cumin, the proprietor in 1635,
is described by Gordon as having been " a gentle-
man whoise meanes and estate held no proportion
with his old descent, which made him capable of far
greater estate than any that he possessd."^ He
was the author of a brief poem on the death of
Bishop Patrick Forbes of Corse, which thus con-
cludes : —

" Though in few acts man could abridge his playes :
In mania schens divyded are his dayes.
Since then wee see the tapers doe decay,
(When 't's dark) the candlesticke may be a prey."

During the wars of the Covenanters Sir Alex-
ander and his family were subjected to considerable
persecution. In June, 1640, he was taken prisoner
by General Munro, and, along with certain other
Aberdeenshire lairds, carried to Edinburgh, where
" they war all wairdit in the tolbuith." They were
subsequently "accusit as contrarie to the good
causs." After being kept in prison for " the space
of six monethis to thair gryt displesour and hurt
to thair helth" they were at last liberated on pay-
ment of heavy fines." Four years later powers
were granted by the Scottish Parliament to Lord
Fraser to uplift the rents pertaining to Cumin, who,
in the commission is described as " a malignant,"
and as having " joyned with Irish rebells and un-
natural cuntriemen in this present rebellion."^

1. Gox^ovC?, Scots Affairs, III., p. 199.

2. Spalding's Trubles, I. , p. 286.

3. Acts of Parliament of Scotland.

Estate of Cult er. 119

Sir Alexander Cumin, the fourteenth laird, was
in 1672 created a baronet of Nova Scotia. He
married a daughter of Alexander Swinton of
Mersington, who was co-heiress of Puckle Church in
Gloucestershire. In 1696 he was allowed to take
the oath of allegiance,^ and nine years later he laid
claims to the office of conservator.- In 1707 an Act
of Parliament was passed in favour of him and his
heirs, empowering them to hold fairs upon the
Muir of Beinshill on the second Thursday of March
and October, annually, " for all kinds of vendible
commodities," authority being given under the
same Act to uplift the " haill profites, tolls, customs,

and to proclaim and ryde the sd

fairs." 3

Alexander Cumin, the eldest son, who succeeded
to the estate, passed as an advocate in Edinburgh,
and had a remarkable career. After being in
business for a brief period, he was induced to quit
the legal profession on a pension of Three hundred
pounds per annum being assigned to him by the
Government. Objections were taken to the con-
tinuance of the annuity, and it was cancelled in
1 72 1. Eight years later, in consequence of a dream
of his wife (Anna, daughter of Lancelot Whitehall,
Commissioner of the Customs for Scotland), he
undertook a voyage to America, with the object of
visiting the Cherokee Indians. On 3rd April, 1730,

1. Acts of Parliament of Scotland.

2. Ibid.

3. Jervise's J?/iVa/Ar, I., p. 19.

1 20 Peterailter.

in a general meeting of chiefs he was crowned
their commander and chief ruler. Returning to
England with six Indian chiefs, he presented them
to George the Second at Windsor, when he laid
his crown at his Majesty's feet, the chiefs at the
same time also doing homage. He propounded
certain schemes for the establishment of banks in
America and other places, connecting them with
the restoration of the Jews, for which, he argued,
the appointed time had arrived, he himself being
alluded to in various passages of scripture as their
deliverer. Finding that the Government officials
would not listen to his wild projects, he proposed,
on his own account, to open a subscription for Five
hundred thousand pounds for the purpose of
establishing these banks, and settling three hundred
thousand Jewish families among the Cherokee
mountains. All his schemes proving futile, he
turned his attention to the study of alchemy, and
began to try experiments on the transmutation of
metals. Being deeply involved in debt, he was
supported chiefly by the contributions of his
friends. In 1766 he was appointed a pensioner in
the Charter House, London, where he died at an
advanced age. His son, who had succeeded him
in his title, was for some time a captain in the
army, but became insane and died in indigence.^
The title thereupon became extinct.

Patrick Duff of Premnay, the fourth son of

I. Anderson's Scottish Nation, I., p. 742.

Estate of Culter. 121

Patrick Duff of Craigston, had lent large sums on
the security of the lands of Culter, and, the con-
ditions of loan not having been implemented by
the borrower, Mr. Duff acquired the lands and
barony of Culter, under an Extract Decree of Sale
of the Court of Session, dated 15th July, 1729. ^
He is described as having been " much conversant
in business during the whole course of his life, and
was a very sensible and agreeable man."- He
married his cousin Margaret, only daughter of
William Duff of Braco, but they had no family.
By his deed of settlement he left the estate of
Culter to his brother. Admiral Robert Duff, and his
heirs, but subject to the disposition of his wife,
should she survive him. Mr. Duff died in October,
1763, and, on 25th December, 1768, his widow
married, as her second husband, Alexander Udny of
that ilk, eldest son of John Udny of Udny and
Lady Martha Udny, daughter of George, first Earl
of Aberdeen, Chancellor of Scotland. Mr. Udny
passed as an advocate in 1728, and fourteen years
later became a Commissioner of Excise for
Scotland.

Admiral Duff had a distinguished career. He
was Commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean
squadron for several years, and in that capacity
successfully defended Gibraltar during the memor-
able siege in 1779. For his signal services he had

1. Title Deeds of Estate.

2. Memoirs of the Duffs, pp. 103-4.

122 Peterculter.

added to his armorial bearings two sailors as
supporters, and George III. had his portrait
painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds for Greenwich
Hospital. Had he lived a little longer he was to
have been made a baronet. He was married, first,
to Helen Duff, daughter of the first Earl of Fife,
and secondly, to Jane Abercromby, widow of
George Morison of Haddo, and eldest daughter
and heiress of General James Abercromby of
Glassaugh. He acquired Fetteresso about 1782,
and settling down there took a great interest in the
property. It was there that he had his first and
probably last meeting with Burns. Encountering
the poet, who was angling in the Carron without
leave, he put the peremptory question, " Sir, who
gave you authority to fish in my water ? " The
poet threw his fishing rod down the stream and
rejoined : —

Your fish are scarce,
Your water's sma',

There's my rod
And Rob's awa' ! ^

Admiral Duff died in 1787, and was buried in a
very fine tomb at Culter.

Mrs. Udny, who retained the surname of Duff,
with a view to " keeping up the memory " of her
father, in 1791 mortified Six thousand merks scots,
the annual income from which she directed should
be applied towards the board and maintenance at

I. Peter's Baronage, p. 79.

Estate of Culter. 123

King's College, Aberdeen, of two or more young
men bearing the name of, or related to, or con-
nected with the family.^ She died two years
later at the age of eighty, leaving the lands of
Culter to James, Earl of Fife ; but no title to the
estate having been made up, her right to dispone
was challenged, and, after a prolonged and ex-
pensive litigation, the House of Lords decided
in favour of the claim of Robert William Duff of
Fetteresso, son of Admiral Duff by his first wife
Helen Duff, He was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Forfarshire Militia, and in 1789 married Mary, only
child of George Morison of Haddo, Dying in
March, 1834, he was succeeded in the estates of
Fetteresso and Culter by his son Robert William
Duff, who died 30th December, 1861, aged seventy
one years.

He was succeeded by his nephew Robert
William Duff, son of his brother Arthur Duff of
Glassaugh, who assumed the surname oi Abercromby
and married Elizabeth, daughter of John Innes of
Cowie. Mr. R. W. Duff, who is proprietor of
Fetteresso, Glassaugh, and Culter, married, in 1871,
Louisa, third daughter of the late Sir William
Scott of Ancrum, Bart, who was for a lengthened
period M.P. for Roxburghshire. Mr. Duff has
himself had the honour of representing Banffshire
in Parliament for the last thirty one years.

The mansion house, which stands about one
mile north-east of Culter Railway Station, and is

I. Deed of Mortification.

1 24 Peterculter.

surrounded by some lofty old trees, is supposed to
have been erected about two hundred and fifty
years ago by Sir Alexander Cumin. The arms of
the Cumins appear on the front wall, supported by
two ostriches, crest a garb, motto Courage. Baird
of Auchmedden describes the building as being
" one of the most beautiful and best finished gentle-
men's seats in the north," but it has latterly suffered
through the non-residence of the proprietor.

The lands and estate of Culter, in the beginning
of the sixteenth century, embraced the baronies of
Culter and Tuliboy, but the Cumins had the whole
converted into one barony, under the distinctive
title of " Culter Cumyng," with the manor place of
Culter as the principal messuage. In 1676 the
lands within the last-named barony were described
as including " the dominical lands of Mains of
Culter, including the tower and fort thereof, Insh
of Culter with the salmon fishings on the river
Dee, Robertson, Hillside, and Tulloch (Tillyoch),
the meal mill called the Hollmill, the fullers' mill
called the Denmill, Over Contlaw, Nether Contlaw,
Ranishill, and Lachts."^ The estate was re-arranged
during the next century — some parts being sold,
other lands, including Glasterberry, which originally
formed part of the barony of Murtle, being at-
tached.

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 345.

Drum Property. 125

DRUM PROPERTY.

The proprietor of Drum owns a large and rich
agricultural tract in this parish, embracing the lands
of Auguston, Kennerty, Linn, and Leuchar.

Auguston, on which there are several granite
quarries, was originally included in the lordship of
Drum, and in 1501, James VI. granted confirmation
of a charter by Andrew Liell, treasurer of the
Cathedral of Aberdeen, executor of Alexander
Lindsay designed as formerly rector of Belhelvie,
granting to the chaplains and choristers of the said
Cathedral an annual feu-duty of Ten merks from
these lands. 1 The annual feu-duty or rent, referred
to, had been sold to the executor by Alexander
Irvine of Drum, in 1495.-

Kennerty, originally Ceann-arde, which signifies
" the head of the small height," was in ancient times
a barony, and, according to the writer of the old
Statistical Account of the parish, was so named
from the ancient seat of the barons, which stood on
the top of a small eminence at the extremity of
higher ground. According to the same authority,
the lands, which contained four or five ploughs,
formed the south division of the parish. In 1482,
Thomas Gordon had a charter from James III.
of these lands, which had previously belonged to
Thomas Hay, and four years later Gordon had

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 346.

2. Registrum Episcopatus I., p. 335.

1 26 Peter culter.

another charter of adjoining ground, which had
belonged to Alexander Irvine of Drum. In 1534,
Thomas Gordon, son of the said Thomas Gordon, and
Margaret Forbes, his wife, had a crown charter of the
same lands. In 1548, Mary Queen of Scots gave
a charter to John Gordon and Janet Lindsay of
these lands, as also of the adjoining fishings in the
river Dee.

ESTATE OF COUNTESSWELLS.

This estate, which includes the lands of Gardin
(now Gairn) and Brutherfield, lies in the north-
east of the parish of Peterculter.

Gardin was formerly a place of considerable
importance, and is believed to have got its title
from the family who bore that surname. In the
sixteenth century George Gardin was frequently
designed as of Gardin, or of his other property of
Banchory. Prior to the period stated, a number of
dwelling-houses, which practically formed a ham-
let, stood on the property, but they have since dis-
appeared.

Countesswells was originally embraced within
the freedom lands of Aberdeen, and by charter
dated 26th June, 161 3, the provost, baillies, council
and community of the burgh granted to John
Leyth (Leith) of Montgarrie, near Alford, Burgess

Estate of Countesswells. 1 27

of Aberdeen, the lands of " Countesswells, Gardyn
and Brutherfield."^ The grant was confirmed by
James VI., under charter dated at Edinburgh on
the nth February, 161 5.2

By 1650 the combined properties had passed
to Alexander Burnett, second son of Burnett of
Leys. He was for some time a baillie of Aberdeen,
and took considerable interest in the municipal
affairs of the city. With his daughter Marjory,
who married James Sandilands of Cotton, he gave
a marriage portion of One hundred thousand
merks. Sandilands was a man of note in his day.
He acted as Town and Commissary Clerk of
Aberdeen, as also Professor of Philosophy, there-
after of Law, in King's College, Aberdeen. He had
the honour of delivering an address of welcome on
the occasion of the visit of Charles H. in 1650,
which so favourably impressed the King that, after
the Restoration, His Majesty elected him one of
the Senators of the College of Justice. Unfortun-
ately, however, he died a few days before the letter
of appointment arrived.

The eldest son, Patrick Sandilands, succeeded as
laird of Cotton, while the second son, John, became
laird of Countesswells. The latter married, first,
. . . Arbuthnot, daughter of . . . Arbuth-
not. By her he had a son, James, who was trained
as a merchant, but unhappily was drowned at sea
in 171 3- 14. He married, as his second wife, Anne

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, IV., p. 542.

2. Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. XLVII., No. 259.

128 Peterculter.

Udny, daughter of John Udny, by whom he had
two sons and one daughter. He was for some time
Provost of Aberdeen.

The eldest son, John Sandilands, who succeeded
as proprietor of Countesswells, married Jean Forbes,
daughter of Thomas Forbes of Waterton.

By 1750 the lands were acquired by Alexander
Livingston, who also bought the adjoining estate of
Cults. He was at first a merchant in Aberdeen, of
which city he was provost for two years, 1750-51.
In the following year he became a partner of the firm
of Milne Cruden & Company, linen manufacturers,
Porthill. The venture proved unsuccessful, and
Livingston became liable for a heavy amount.
He, therefore, sold off his whole belongings,
including the estates of Countesswells and Cults,
and with the proceeds satisfied the creditors, who,
to mark their appreciation of his conduct, presented
him with a handsome dinner service with his arms
painted upon them. He went over to Rotterdam,
where, entering into mercantile business, he speedily
amassed a fortune.

In the end of last century Countesswells and
Cults, as also Bieldside, were owned by James
Burnett, who built the mansion house of Countess-
wells. Regarding it the author of the General
Descriptioti of the East Coast of Scotland says
that, " though situated in the midst of a wild moor-
land country, it is extremely pleasant. The house,
a genteel modern building, stands in the middle of
a fine lawn within the same general enclosure with

Culter Paper Works. 1 29

the garden and pleasure ground, and is well
sheltered by wood."^

John Burnett, son of the preceding proprietor,
succeeded, and in the early years of the present
century began to dispose of the estate, Bieldside
going to William Corbet, supervisor of Excise, and
Cults to George Symmers, cloth merchant in
Aberdeen.

In 181 1 James Gammell, bank agent in
Greenock and proprietor of Drumtochty in For-
doun, acquired Countesswells, which included
Gairn and Brutherfield. He married Janet Giels,
and died at Drumtochty Castle, on 15th September,
1825, aged 89.

The present proprietor of Countesswells and
Drumtochty is the Rev. James Stewart Gammell.

CULTER PAPER WORKS.

In the year 1750, an Englishman of the name of
Bartholomew Smith, recognising the superior ad-
vantages which Culter possessed as a site for a
paper manufactory, leased from Patrick Duff of
Culter, for a period of one hundred and fourteen
years, the Waulkmill of Craigton, on the banks of
the Culter burn, and having had the same converted
into a paper mill, commenced operations on the
1st January following. The business was the first

I. Douglas's East Coast of Scotland, p. 259.
K

1 30 Peter culter.

of its kind in the north of Scotland, but the annual
output was very small on account of the limited
means of transport then existing. The work was
continued by Mr. Smith's two sons, Richard and
Lewis Smith,* who, according to the writer of the
old Statistical Account of the parish, usually em-
ployed six men in the different departments. The
same writer states that " formerly they manu-
factured superfine paper, and paper for notes to the
Aberdeen Bank," and that he himself had written
upon fine post paper, manufactured at the mill,
equal in quality to any he had ever seen.

In 1820 the business was acquired by Alexander
Irvine of Old Aberdeen, who entered into partner-
ship, and carried it on under the title of " Alexander
Irvine & Company " till 1837, when it was purchased
by Messrs. Arbuthnot and McCombie, who enlarged
the mills so considerably that, in 1840, they were
giving employment to sixty people.

In 1856 Messrs. Pirie of Stoneywood took over
the concern, but in 1865 sold it to the Culter Mills

*A tombstone erected over the grave of Lewis Smith in the
churchyard of Peterculter bears the following epitaph : —
While manly beauty in meridian hloom,
Untimely hast'ning to the ghastly tomb,
Calls from the eye the sympathetic tear ;
Pause, friend, and shed the mournful tribute here.
If social manners, with a taste refin'd,
If sterling worth, with unassuming mind,
If filial tenderness possess a charm,
If steady friendship can your bosom warm,
Then, reader, imitate, applaud, revere
What triumph'd in the man that's buried here.

Schoolmasters. 1 3 1

Paper Company (Limited). At that time the
weekly production was about fifteen tons, but
through very extensive additions to the works and
an entire renewal of plant, it is now nearly sixty
tons.

The mills are considered amongst the most
complete of their kind in the United Kingdom, no
expense having been spared in making both
buildings and machinery perfect. The manu-
factures of the Company are everywhere noted for
their excellence of quality and variety of style. The
business gives employment to upwards of three
hundred workpeople of both sexes, the most of
whom are accommodated in commodious dwellings
erected by the Company on their own ground.

SCHOOLMASTERS.

In the end of last century the Schoolmaster's
salary was only ;^5 lis. i^d. per annum, with
certain small fees added ; but through the influence
of the parish Minister it was augmented to
;^8 6s. 8d,, in addition to which £\ 14s. 2d. was
allowed from a fund of Two hundred merks left in
1644 by Sir Alexander Cumin of Culter, and
another small surn from a fund left by Patrick
Duff of Culter, both for teaching a specified
description of scholars. By a rule established at
the same time, the quarterly fees of scholars were

132 Peteixulter.

fixed at One shilling and sixpence for English,
Two shillings with Writing or Arithmetic added,
and Two shillings and sixpence for Latin.

In 1792 the average attendance of scholars in
summer was forty-five, and in autumn and winter
sixty.

The parish, like most country parishes, occasion-
ally had teachers who were educated and mentally
endowed above the humble requirements of their
situation. One of them, who may be said to have
been notorious rather than famous, had for a long
time considerable local notoriety, and as he used his
own failings and consequent misfortunes to point a
moral for others, a slight notice of him may not be
unacceptable, especially to those whose memories
carry them back to those days, not yet remote,
when his poem, from which we afterwards quote,
was never wanting in the itinerant ballad vendor's
list, nor failed to find a ready hearing among the
country folks of Lower Deeside.

On 15th November, 1724, William Forbes,
M.A., entered on the offices of session clerk and
precentor, and at the following Whitsunday became
parish schoolmaster. Matters appear to have gone
smoothly enough for some time, but being fonder
of sport than of teaching, and being otherwise
injudicious, he soon began to gain a reputation
inconsistent with his profession. On the 2nd
January, 1732, the Minister reported that Forbes
had " turned his back upon his office, one which
acct he was not again to be received," and the

Schoolmasters. 133

heritors having " recommended Mr. William Modes
for the sd office," the Session appointed him
accordingly. On the 23rd of the same month the
creditors of Forbes arrested, in the hands of the
Session, Ten guineas of salary due to him. A
year later he acknowledged the paternity of a
child by Margaret Forbes, servant at Brutherfield,
for which he was summoned to appear before
the Session, but it latterly came out that he had
" gone off a recruit to Ireland," so that the Session
were obliged to sist further procedure in the case.
Nothing further is told of the fate of Forbes after
he left Deeside, but sometime about 1746 there
appeared a poetical account from his own pen of
his Peterculter escapades — " The Dominie Depos'd,
or some reflections of his Intrigue with a young
lass, and what happened thereupon ; Interspersed
with advice to all Schoolmasters, Precentors, and
Dominies on Deeside. By William Forbes, A.M.,
late Schoolmaster at Peterculter." The piece
enjoyed great local popularity for a long time, and
was a staple article of trade with the chapbook
makers in the end of last century, who sent edition
after edition of it broadcast over the north. The
breadth of treatment, which was then a main
element in the humour of popular rustic verse, and
which made it sell, keeps it now among the
curiosities of local vagrant literature.^ The
following verses will give a fair indication of the
general quality of the piece : —

I. \ia\\itr^s Bards of Bon-AccorJ, p. 214,

1 34 Peteradter.

For hark I'll tell you what they think,
Since I left handling pen and ink,
Wae worth that weary sup of drink

He lik'd so weel !
He drank it a' left not a clink

His throat to sweel.

Then was it not a grand presumption.
To call him Doctor of the function ?
He dealt too much in barley-unction

For his profession ;
He never took a good injunction

P'rae kirk or session.

And to attend he was not wiUing

His school, sae lang's he had a shilling,

Bat lov'd to be where there was filling

Good punch or ale ;
For him to rise was just like killing

Or first to fail.

His fishing-wand, his snishin-box,
A fowling-piece to shoot muir-cocks,
And hunting hares thro' craigs and rocks,

This was his game ;
Still kept the young anes, so the fox

Might worry them.

When he committed all these tricks.
For which he well deserv'd his licks,
With red-coats he did intermix.

When he foresaw
The punishment the kirk inflicts

On fouks that fa'.

Pai'ish Cliurch. 135

Then to his thrift he bid adieu,
When with his tail he stap'd his mou',
He chang'd his coat to red and blue

And, like a sot,
Did the poor clerk convert into

A Royal Scot.

, In 1770 the schoolmaster was George Skene
Keith, a lineal descendant of Alexander Keith,
third son of the second Earl Marischal. Having
qualified for the ministry, he was presented to the
parish of Keith-hall and Kinkell, and subsequently
to Tulliallan in Perthshire. He had the degree of
D.D. from the University of Aberdeen, and will be
long remembered by his book on the " Agriculture
of Aberdeenshire," published in 181 1.

PARISH CHURCH.

(St. Peter, the Apostle.)

The Parish Church, which was originally dedicated
to St. Peter, the Apostle, was bestowed upon the
Abbey and Monks of St. Mary of Kelso, about
1165-99. The gift was afterwards confirmed by
Mathew, Bishop of Aberdeen, within whose diocese
the church was situated.^ It is rated in the Old
Taxation at 54s. 4d.-

1. Jerxase's Epitaphs, I., p. 16.

2. Ibid.

136 Peterculter.

On i6th October, 1673, " the fabrick of the kirk
fell to the ground," 1 but being temporarily repaired
the church did service till 1779, when a new church,
capable of accommodating 550 people, was erected.
The date of 1779 is upon the building, and a slab
built into the north wall of the churchyard, initialled
M. J.K., and dated 1715, commemorates the incum-
bency of the Rev. John Kennedy, who was minister
from 1704 to 1723.

In 1793 the stipend was ;^38 5s. 3d. stg., with
39|- bolls of oatmeal and 8^ bolls of bear.- In 181 2
it was augmented to ^^113 8s. 2d. in money, with
54 bolls, 2 firlots, 2\^ lippies meal, and 5 1 bolls, 3
firlots bear.^

The communion utensils include two goblets,
or cups of silver, two pattens, or breadplates of
hard pewter, two flagons of white metal, two collec-
tion plates of pewter, and one baptismal basin,
which is never used. The two cups are of chaste
design, and bear the Duff arms, with the motto
Virtute et opera in scroll, over right hand holding a
shell. Underneath are the two monograms, H. D.
and M. U.D., the one above the other. Unfortun-
ately no reference is made in the kirk session re-
cords as to how these valuable cups became the
property of the kirk session ; but as the first mono-
gram represents the initials of Helen Duff, and the
second those of Margaret Udny Duff, the articles

1. Session Records,

2. Old Statistical Account, vol., XVI., p. 368.

3. Statistical Account of Aberdeenshire, p. 113.

Ministers, 1 37

had, doubtless, been presented by the Duff family
in memory of these ladies. The plate marks are a
Hon passant, leopard's head crowned — Roman
capital O, king's head, and maker's initials C. H.
From these Hall marks we know that the cups
were made in London in the year 1 809.

MINISTERS.

1239-40. Alayms de Soletre, Vicar. He had prob-
ably been an ecclesiastic of the monastery of Soutra,
in Lothian, and was presented by the Abbot of
Kelso to the vicarage of the church of Culter in
1239.1

1420. Sir John Yule, Rector.- An interesting
account is given in the " Memorials of the Family
of Skene of Skene," of his interrogation when griev-
ously sick, eight days before his death, regarding the
lands of Easter Skene, &c.-^

1567. Alexander Robertson, Reader.* He had a

salary of 16 lib per annum.

1585. Richard Ross, Minister, having " Dilmaok"

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 1 6.

2. Collections, j^derdeeti ami Ban^, I. p. 353.

3. Skene of Skene, p. 19.

4. Collections, Aberdeen and Banff, I., p. 230.

138 Peterculter.

also in charge. He removed permanently to the
latter in 1599.

1593- William Meldrum, Vicar. On 6th April
of this year, in his capacity of " perpetual vicar
of Peterculter, and superintendent of the sing-
ing in the Cathedral of Aberdeen," he granted
a foundation for an annual rent of Eighty-seven
florins and Ten stivers of Brabant for the support
and education of four bursars in the University of
Aberdeen, but only in the event of the restoration
of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.^
1590. William Wallace, Reader till 1599. Having
begun teaching and continuing " dailie to increase
in learning be studie " he exhorted, loth August of
the latter year, and was appointed to be enrolled
4th December, 1601, according to the ordinance of
last Provincial Assembly. In 1602, he had for
stipend 100 merks (;^5 lis. 6^d. stg.), was ad-
monished 7th March, 1608, " to giff himselff mair
diligentlie to his studies," and demitted previous to
loth December, 161 2, being succeeded by his son
William. -

1612. William Wallace, son of the preceding, was
presented to the charge, and continued as Minister
for at least twenty-two years, -^ In November, 1633,
he was entered as holding a wadset upon the lands
of " Hiltoun of Kennertie."*

1. Records University and Kin£ s College, p. 134.

2. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 512.

3. Ibid.

4. Miscellany Spalding Club, III., p. 137.

Ministers. 1 39

163—. Francis Thomson, successor. Having re-
fused to subscribe the Covenant, he fled, along with
certain other Ministers, to His Majesty in England,
but returned to Aberdeen, 2nd June, 1639.^
16 — . Alexander Garioch. He was for many
years Minister of Cushnie, and acted as Alford
Presbytery Clerk in 1633-34. He was a m.ember of
the Commission of Assembly 1646, and was trans-
lated to Peterculter before 1651. He got an
augmentation of stipend on 22nd February, 1665,
and died between i8th November and 23rd
December, 1673.-

16 — . Andrew Garioch, son of the preceding,
succeeded as assistant and successor. He was a
student at King's College in 1647, and, being duly
licensed, was ordained prior to 27th October, i663.-'
1674. John Irvine, translated from Kilmalcolm,
and inducted on nth January of this year. He
was deprived in 1695 for non-jurancy, and intruded
at Insch six years later. He purchased the lands of
Saphock, and married Janet, youngest daughter of
the Rev. Robert Birnie, Minister of Lanark, by
whom he had a son, Alexander, and a daughter,
who became the wife of the proprietor of Barns.*
1697. Alexander Thomson ordained 14th April,
1697, but deposed 6th October, 1703, for lying,
negligence, and other faults. In the libel served

1. Spalding's Trubles, vol. I., p. 199.

2. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 512.

3. Presbytery and Synod Records.

4. Ibid, and Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 512.

I40 Peter culter.

upon him the following charges were included.
" Primo. Mr. Alexander Thomson is guilty of
scandalous churlishness and inhospitality . . .
evidence by hiding himself when he saw strangers
coming to his house, ... by refusing enter-
tainment and lodging, even to such of his
acquaintances as craved it of him, and thereby
exposed them to several inconveniences, par-
ticularly to Mr. William Carnegie, who, having
preached at Drumoak on a Sabbath-day in winter
last, came to Thomson's house expecting entertain-
ment and lodging, it being late, and the night very
stormy and cold, yet he carried so inhumanely
towards him that he was obliged to take some meat
for his refreshment at the schoolmaster's. Seamdo.
He is of a most niggardly and parsimonious nature,
in so much that, though he hath enjoyed a good
benefice, and got good prices for his victuall in the
late years of dearth, yet he utterly neglected to
provide himself of a competent library . . .
Quarto. He is guilty of the unchristian^neglect of the
worship of God in his family, particularly since he
got that trouble in his leg, having not so much as
prayer in his family from one Sabbath to another ;
witnesses Andrew Ross and his other servants, and
owned by himself to some of the members of
Presbytery, pretending that his leg was to be dressed
at the time when he should have had family wor-
ship. He is guilty of laziness, sloath, idleness, and
unc'oncernedness in his ministerial work, to the dis-
honour of God, and the disgrace of the ministerie, as

Ministers. 141

appeareth by his lying in bed till eleven or twelve
of the clock when in perfect health, and by his ne-
glect to preach in his house on the Sabbath for
many weeks together . . and even of late when
he made some fashion of preaching, yet he did not
rise out of his bed . . . And being one night at
Crathis, and desired to pray in the family, they
complained that it was rather a mockery than
prayer ; for they were not well got to their knees
till he ended, having uttered a few sentences ; and
by his unedifying discourses, particularly in preach-
ing in Luke, ch, viii., vv, 22, 23, or a paralelle place,
he only showed what good or evil the wind did to
earthly things, in breaking down people's corns,
biggings, and other like effects of it, but spake
nothing that was spiritually edifying, which oc-
casioned severalls to go away laughing, calling it the
' windy preaching' to this day. No?io. He is guilty
of superstitious observances, of frets, and omens,
saying that he knew some evil would befall him
that day that he fell and hurt his leg, for his right-
foot shoe would not go on, and he was going to
bum it ; that he went out without his hat, and saw
a black man in the sun ; that his dog would not
follow him, and that he met a barefooted child." ^
1704. John Kennedy graduated at the University
and King's College, Aberdeen, in 1697, licensed by
the Presbytery of Perth, July, 1701, called to Peter-
culter 6th August, 1704, and ordained on 28th Sep-

I. Presbytery Records.

142 Peterculter.

tember following. He died on i8th October, 1723,
aged forty-nine years. ^

1724. William Thomson graduated at Aberdeen
in April, 17 18, licensed by the Presbytery there in
1723, and ordained ist October, 1724. He died on
23rd November, 1727, aged about thirty years."
1728 Patrick Black, licensed by the Presbytery of
Paisley in August, 1725, ordained at Peterculter on
loth October, 1728. He died on nth June, 1766.'*
1767. William Duff, who for the previous twelve
years had been Minister of Glenbucket, was
presented to Peterculter in the autumn of 1766,
and admitted on 4th March following. In 1774 he
was presented to Foveran, where he died, father of
the Synod, 23rd February, 181 5, in the eighty-third
year of his age, and sixtieth of his ministry.*
1775. George Mark, a native of Banff, graduated
at Aberdeen in 1756, and was licensed by the
Presbytery of Dundee in April, 1763. He was
presented to Kirkhill parish in Inverness-shire by
George III. in 1770, but opposed on account of
his deficiency in the Gaelic language. The case
was brought before the General Assembly of the
following year, when it was remitted to the Pres-
bytery for trial of his knowledge of the Gaelic
language. The case came up in the succeeding

1. Session Records and Scott's Fasti, VI., 513.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Presbytery and Session Records, and Scott's Fasti, VI.,

pp. 513 and 608,

Ministers. 143

year, when it was reported " that for the short time
he has applied to it, he seems to understand the
principles thereof, and that in a short time he will
be fully capable to teach them to a Gaelic con-
gregation if he continue the diligence he has hitherto
done." It was then referred to a Commission,
which, on 2nd June, 1772, unanimously found that
the presentee " not being sufficiently possessed of
the Gaelic language, is not qualified to be minister
of that parish," and he was thereupon set aside.
He was presented to Peterculter in July, 1775,
ordained on 17th August of the same year, and
died on 23rd December, 181 1.^
1 8 12. John Stirling, a native of Dunblane, was
licensed by the Presbytery of Fordoun on 3rd July,
181 1, and ordained at Peterculter on 17th Septem-
ber, 181 2. He died on 5th October, 1839, in the
54th year "of his age.-

1840. Robert Thomson, who succeeded, was or-
dained on 22nd April, 1840. At the disruption he
threw in his lot with the Free Church party, and
formally demitted on 14th June, 1843. He died
on 13th January, 1845.^

1843. Thomas Barclay, who had for some time
held a charge in Lerwick, was admitted on 14th
September, 1843. He was translated to Currie in
the Presbytery of Edinburgh, on nth July, 1844, and

1. Presbytery and Session Records and Sco\.\.'s Fasti, VI., p. 513.

2. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 19, and Separate Register of Pres-

bytery.

3. Separate Register of Presbytery.

144 Peterculter,

in 1849 had the degree of D.D. from the University
and King's College, Aberdeen. In 1857 he became
Principal of the University of Glasgow, and died
in 1873.1

1844. John Allan, ordained on 19th September of
this year. He was a native of Banffshire, and for
sometime acted as tutor to a wealthy Quaker
family, thereafter holding the classical mastership
of Elgin Academy. He was for many years Pres-
bytery clerk of Aberdeen, and died 25th Januar}^,
1888.

1888. James Aird ordained on 7th June of this
year.

SESSION RECORDS.

These records, which extend to eleven volumes,
commence of date, January, 1674, and run on con-
secutively to the present time. They give a re-
markable insight into the customs and habits of
the people during the last two centuries. They
also show the power and influence wielded by the
ministers and elders of former times, and how
thoroughly the various parochial duties were per-
formed. As the guardian of public morals the
Session vigorously corrected the unsabbatical,
slanderous, amorous, and blasphemous tendencies
of certain of the parishioners. There are numerous

I. Separate Register of Presbytery.

Session Records. 145

entries in the books referring to the then very
serious crime of Sabbath-breaking, and woe to the
parties who even absented themselves from divine
service. On 9th Sept., 1677, "the minister observing
several absent from the church, did call the roll,
when two farmers and their wives with several
other absentees ordered to be summoned before the
Session." On the following Sunday the accused
"compeared and pled that being wearied with work
all the week, they were not able to travel to the
church which lies at so great a distance from them.
This excuse was not sustained, and the Session re-
vived their old act, that persons absenting them-
selves from the parish church without a lawful
excuse should pay 6/8 scots of penalty, as also to
appear before the pulpit." Keeping unseasonable
hours, scolding and flyting, wife-beating, fighting,
rioting, drinking and playing cards, to say nothing
of the scandal of neglecting to attend the diets of
examination, were offences which were summarily
dealt with. As an encouragement to the salmon
fishers, who seem to have frequently given offence
by commencing the labours of the week before the
Sunday had expired, it was arranged in 1767, that
the church bell should be rung every Sunday at
midnight as a signal to commence. " Not guilty but
don't do it again" would seem to have been a
favourite form of sessional sentence. 19th June,
1709, "one of the elders reporting that Thomas
Rob's kiln was smoking this morning, and that he
and his people seemed to be drying victuall, Rob is
L

146 Peterculter.

ordered to be summoned." Subsequently com-
pearing and denying the charge the same was
abandoned, but " Rob was exhorted to be more
circumspect in future." The kirk session had
evidently difficulty in dealing with the persistent
church-going habits of the " dogs," and a stop had
to be put to the canine enthusiasm for public
worship by a policy of blood and iron. 6th
February, 1743, "all entreaties to have the dogs
kept at home having failed, the Session resolved to
appoint a dog officer, at a salary of 2d. off each
day's collection." Tongs for officer's use ordered to
be made. 23rd February, 1746, on account of
the negligence of John Marr, the dog officer, in
keeping out the dogs, it was resolved to have him
deposed. A successor was duly appointed, and in
this connection it is said that the following story,
told by the late Rev. Dr. Paul in his Past and
Present of Aberdeenshire, had its origin in Peter-
culter. The Minister, being annoyed by a dog
during the delivery of his sermon, and being unable
to bear it any longer, said to the beadle, " Peter,
man, canna you put out that dog ? " " Na," said
Peter, " he winna gang oot, sir." " Canna ye clip
him then ? " said the Minister. " Na, sir," said
Peter, " I canna dee't, he's a terrible surly-like
beast, an I'm fear't at him."

Gales, storms, and remarkable events occurring
in the parish are carefully described. 26th Sep-
tember, 1675, " owing to a most grievous shaking
wind, which continued two days, doing great

Session Records. 147

damage to the corns, the Minister preached upon
Job, I., 21." i8th August, 1689, "the people being
feared, by reason of the Highlanders and soldiers
plundering the country, the Minister began to
preach once a day." 26th October, 1690, "no
Session because the day was rainy." loth July,
1779, " Kennerty's two servants struck down and
killed by thunder and lightning to-day."* The
state of health of the Minister is frequently
recorded. 30th March, 1707, "the Minister, being
much indisposed with the toothache, only preached
and did not lecture." 18th March, 1716, "the
Minister of Drumoak preached, our own Minister
being gone to Aberdeen to stay there some time
under the Physician's cure for the jaundice, where-
with he was seized." 20th December, 1724,
" Minister, though weary through cold and travail,
yet preached " To neglect attending a funeral on
being invited was frowned upon in a serious way.
5th November, 1676, "act passed that all parties

* "On Saturday, loth July, 1779, we were visited by a fatal
thunderstorm. The morning of that day was bright and hot. At
noon the atmosphere became overcast. A storm gathered in the
north, and made its progress southward over this place. About three
o'clock the explosion of the thunder cloud, then vertical to us, was
tremendous. At that instant a farmer's son with two servants were
loading their carts, in a heath about a mile south, with stones for
building the church. The two servants and two of the horses
were killed. The farmer's son was struck to the ground, and
remained some time in a state of insensibility. Next morning
the two servants were buried here in one grave. A stone was set
up at the fatal spot, with the initials of their names." [Old
Statistical Account.]

148 Peterculter.

absenting themselves from a burial after being
charged thereto shall be fined a mark piece to the
church box." If fines were exacted for trivial
offences, and if the views of the kirk-session
generally were somewhat narrow, charity seems to
have been dealt out on tolerably broad principles.
Not only did poor travelling strangers, naked lasses,
diseased children, born fools, and triplets, receive of
the session bounty, but considerable sums were
disbursed from time to time in relieving "mariners
of Montrose taken by the Turks," in " helping a poor
woman from Jedburgh who had lost 70CXD merks by
fire," for " the rebuilding of houses burnt in the
Canongate Edinburgh," for " the erecting of a new
bridge at Inverness," and "for the defraying of the
expense of translating the Bible into Gaelic."

The Presbytery, in attesting the minute book-
on 22nd August, 1700, warned the Session "that
they must not meddle with any civil affairs,
accounts, or reckonings on the Lord's day in time
coming under pain of censure."

The following church law, passed by the Session
in 1698, is, from the sweeping character of its
terms, deserving of notice : — " The breakers and
violators of God's commands and Ecclesiastick
Laws, all Hereticks, Apostats, and Schismaticks,
Atheists, Idolators, Papists, Quakers, &c. (within
the parish) who forsake God and follow the Devil,
directly or indirectly, as Witches, Conjurors,
Charmers, Juglars, Fortune-tellers, &c. All pro-
phane and scandalous hypocritical and superstitious

Session Records. i/^g

persons, Blasphemers, Cursers, Swearers, For-
swearers, and Perjurers, impenitent, obstinate,
contumacious, and incorrigible sinners, irreligious
and grossly ignorant creatures, who prophane or
contemn God's name and ordinances, and carry
irreverently in time of God's worship, who tempt
and provoke God and others, who contemn, mock,
and scorn, and are disobedient and obstinate to
Parents, Civil or Ecclesiastick, as Magistrats,
Ministers, &c., who are cruell and revengeful, strive,
strick, and fight with, defile and polute, steal, rob,
and oppress, detract, revile, and slander, cheat, lye,
and backbite, raise and bear false reports on and
witness against and blot the good name, credit, and
repute of, or envy their neighbours, and covet what
is theirs ; who forge Testificates, &c., who commit
sins and scandals against, or omit duties and ofifices
to God, themselves, or their neighbours, who
neglect and contemn God's worship, its means,
manner and season, and do not preserve and
maintain their own and neighbours respect and
credit, life and charity, livelihood and estate, good
name and fame, and are undutiful and injurious to
Magistrates, Ministers, Elders, Husbands, Wives,
Parents, Children, Masters, Servants, Relations,
Superiors, Inferiors or Equals, who contemn and
despise God's ordinances and Sacraments, Provi-
dences and Works, Christ's Offices and Members,
Church Government and discipline, the Spirit's
Grace and wages, who neglect Prayers, singing of
Psalms, Catechising and Conference, and follow

1 50 Petermlter.

their own inventions in God's service, who do not
remember and keep holy by reading, praying, and
religious exercises, or break the Lord's day by
sinfull words or works, idleness or unnecessary
recreations and employments, working (works of
necessity and charity and mercy excepted),
travelling or doing what should or may be done on
other days, viz.: — buying and selling, borrowing or
lending, craving and paying debts, taking tacks,
feeing servants, making bargains, merchandising,
trading, fishing, fleshing, threshing, grinding, or the
like servill works. Who spend their time and
talents, health and wealth, by idleness or slothfull-
ness in their callings, infrugality or prodigality,
false weights or measures, gaining, pledging, and
drinking unnecessarily or unseasonably (now
refreshment being sometimes necessary on the
Lord's day, some time is allowed therefor, but if
they stay in the change house after the ringing of
the bell, or take more than what refreshes them,
then they and the Innkeeper shall be censured and
fyned according to the nature of their sin and
scandal) all the foresaid persons (if anie be in this
parish) shall not only be censured but also fyned
and punished according to the nature and quality
of the Persons and Parties offending and offended,
of the offence and crime and its circumstances, and
they are to be dealt with privately and publickly,
and to satisfy before the Session or Congregation,
Presbytery, or any other Church Judicature as is
usual, and being censured as is requisite till they

Session Records. 151

pay their then penalties and satisfy the Church for
their scandal, they shall be enrolled and read to be
such, and if they continue or be contumacious,
they shall not be admitted to the Holy Communion,
but shall be charged before the Judges and
Judicatures competent, and to make the same
effectual according to the laudable lavv^s of this
Kingdom in Church and State, the Session give
power to the Minister to make a Session Baily (if
need be) or empower any of their number to
prosecute the same, and shall pay his necessary
and instructed charges and expenses for that end."

152 Maryculter.

MARYCULTER.

THE greater part of the lands of Culter, now
embraced in the parish of Maryculter, was
granted by King William the Lion about 1 1 87 to
the monks of Kelso, or, with more accuracy, to the
Knights Templars. Between 1221 and 1236
Walter Beyseth or Bisset founded a preceptory
of these Templars at Maryculter,^ and in 1240
Bishop Radulphus of Aberdeen granted the Church
of Aboyne to the brethren of the Temple at Culter,-
who had erected a chapel on the south side of the
Dee, which, in 1287-8, was consecrated — receiving
the rights of burial and administration of the sacra-
ments— and dedicated to Saint Mary. This
explains how the portions of the original parish
of Peterculter on the north and south sides of the
river Dee came to be called Peterculter and Mary-
culter respectively.

As the Knights Templars were at one time so
closely associated with the history of this parish, it
may not be improper to sketch in a few words
their origin and career, that general local readers
especially may be interested by knowing some-
thing of the nature and greatness of the order of
men who, many centuries ago, lived and ruled in
these localities that to this day retain traces of

1. Beauly Priory G.C., p. 300.

2. Regis. Epis. Abd., II., p. 271.

Maryculter. 153

their work and memorials of their power. The
order was established early in the twelfth century
by Hugh de Payens, Godfrey of St. Omer, and
seven other French Knights of noble birth, who
banded themselves together for the purpose of
escorting those Christian pilgrims who crossed
Judea on their way to Jerusalem. This service was
the more valuable in a country where the Christians
had so many enemies, and where roving Bedouins
were swarming. In after times the objects of the
Knights included the defence of the Christian faith,
and of the Holy Sepulchre against the Saracens.
They received the name of Templars through their
keeping their arms in a building granted them by
the abbot of the convent called the Temple of
Jerusalem. They vowed obedience, chastity, and
poverty, to defend the Temple and city, to enter-
tain pilgrims, and guard them safely through the
Holy Land. The admission of members to the
order was solemn and impressive, the ceremony
taking place at dead of night.

Pope Honorius H. confirmed the order in 1128,
and imposed certain rules of observance, such as
abstention from flesh for four days each week, and
from eggs and milk on Fridays. There was a
curious provision that two and two should eat at
the same board, in. order that the one might see
that the other did not fast. They were allowed no
ornaments ; hair and dress were to be kept plain
and simple. Except by special permission of the
superior, they were to hold no correspondence with

154 ■ Maryculter.

any one in the outer world, not even with mothers,
sisters, or brothers. They were to look at the
serious side of life as soldiers of righteousness
fighting against frivolity, so much so that the most
innocent amusements were discouraged as trifling.
A Templar was not to engage in hunting, hawking,
or shooting, and still less in the playing of idle
games. An exception, however, was made in the case
of lion hunting, it being considered brave and manly
to encounter the king of beasts with no weapon of
protection save a knife. It was the custom of the
Knights to wear a white cloak (the emblem of
chastity), adorned with an eight-pointed red cross on
the left shoulder, and in this attire, Mackenzie says,
" the Templar, on his swift and fiery charger, and
the point of his lance glancing in the sun, was full
oft a welcome sight to the weary pilgrim toiling
along the dusty road from Jaffa to Jerusalem with
the dread of Arab robbers upon him at every
step."

It was during the reign of David tJie Sore
Saint that they first made their appearance in
Scotland, but how they could, so early as the time
of William the Lion, have had extensive possessions
in Maryculter, Aberdeen, and Buchan, as elsewhere
in Scotland, it is difficult to understand. It is
apparent that there was scarcely a parish in Scot-
land wherein, at some time or other, they had not
lands, farms, or houses. Their gallant bearing,
however, and the fame of their exploits, must have
procured them many converts, as also rich

Maryculter. ' 155

donations both in money and lands. Indeed, in
less than one hundred years from the date of their
establishment as an order, they had grown into an
army of some fifteen thousand trained warriors,
who were bound by their vow never to decline
battle, even with one to three. When fighting with
the Saracens it was a fixed rule that if one of their
number was taken prisoner he was not to be
ransomed but left to his fate. When so captured
he was invariably offered, says Mr. Froude, " the
alternative of the Koran or the sword, and there is
scarcely one recorded instance of a Templar saving
his life by abandoning his faith." Ultimately their
wealth and power increased till rivalry and jealousy
were aroused. Rumours were circulated against
them, imputing surreptitious scheming for the over-
throw of European thrones, and the consequent
advancement of their own power. They were also
charged with apostasy from the Catholic faith,
and with perpetrating the most hideous crimes.
Philip IV. of France, in concert with Pope
Clement V., took active steps against them, more,
however, with a view to appropriating their pos-
sessions, than to punishing their alleged crimes.
A number of the leading members on the continent
were arrested and put upon a mock trial. Many,
declining to confess to the absurd accusations laid
against them, were subjected to cruel tortures, while
others were burned alive.

The order was finally abolished by a Papal bull,
dated 2nd March, 13 12, but Philip and Clement,

156 Maryculter.

the instigators of this cruel proceeding, did not long
enjoy their triumph. In the time and manner
of their deaths there is a touch of the just retri-
bution that overtakes the tyrant and the oppressor.
Among the victims of their avarice and cruelty was
De Molay, the Grand Master, and it is said that
when the flames were consuming his limbs, he
called with a loud voice, " Clement, I summon
thee to appear within forty days before the tribunal
of the Supreme Judge, and thou, Philip, prepare
thyself to appear also before Him within a year!"
Such were the last words of that valiant man, and
those who believe in the certainty of a dying
martyr's prophecy or judgment must have found
their faith corroborated here, for it is an extra-
ordinary circumstance that, within a few weeks.
Clement died in agony, and that, a little later, Philip,
being flung by a vicious horse, likewise succumbed.
Thenceforward there was a universal conviction
throughout the country that the Templars had been
unjustly dealt with, but, the order of abolition
having been passed, no effort was made to have it
recalled. In Scotland, however, they received the
utmost respect and protection, and in England
Edward II, was so favourable to them, that he
wrote specially to the Pope, and to the greater
number of the Kings of Europe, " begging them to
give no credit to the calumnies divulged against
the Knight Templars, whose purity of faith, good
customs, and zeal for the defence of religion, all
England revered."

Maryculter. 1 5 7

All the extensive Templar estates, including
the lands in Maryculter, were conferred upon the
Knights Hospitallers or Knights of St. John of
Jerusalem, whose Scottish headquarters were at
Torphichen in Linlithgowshire. Several writers
state that so great prices were paid for these pro-
perties that the Hospitallers were left poorer by
the transactions. This order was founded as early
as 1048 by some devout merchants of Melphis who,
previous to the Crusades, had obtained from the
Caliph of Egypt permission to erect a church and
hospital in Jerusalem for the entertainment of
Christian pilgrims. These institutions had been
founded scarcely seventeen years when they were
on the verge of destruction by the Ottoman Turks,
who not only took Jerusalem, but conquered
Palestine. The Turks persecuted the Christians
with the utmost rigour, and consented to the pre-
servation of their hospitals and church, only when
heavy contributions were paid. It was then that
Philip the Hermit preached the first Crusade
against the Infidels who were oppressing the Holy
Land, and enlisted the nations of the west for the
purpose of re-capturing the tomb of Jesus Christ.
The Hospitallers, who had until this time been
exclusively laical, formed themselves into a re-
ligious order, with vows very similar to those of
the Templars already described. Having shown
conspicuous valour at the siege of the Holy City,
they received large possessions from Godfrey, when
he led his victorious Crusaders within the walls of

158 Maryculter.

Jerusalem, and having erected a magnificent church
in honour of St. John, and an hospital for the
reception of the sick, they obtained the name by
which they were afterwards known. They assumed
as their peculiar dress a black habit, with a cross
of gold having eight points enamelled white, in
memory of the eight beatitudes. Their order con-
tained some of the most illustrious youth of Europe ;
and so severe was the test applied to candidates for
admission, that every entrant had to prove his
nobility for four generations, and that he had been
born in lawful wedlock ; unless he happened to be
the bastard of a king, for the honour of having
royal blood alone could outweigh the disgrace of
illegitimacy.

With objects almost identical, the Hospitallers
and Templars might naturally have been expected
to regard one another with feelings of amity and
good-will. On the contrary, however, the utmost
hostility was manifested by the rival members, and
it is recorded that they not only frequently
quarrelled, but in 1259 fought a pitched battle in
the very centre of the Holy Land, when many on
both sides were slain.

The Hospitallers long maintained themselves
against the arms of the Turks and Saracens, but in
1 291 were driven from Palestine. Upon this they
conquered Cyprus, but soon lost it again, where-
upon, in 1309, they established their headquarters
in the island of Rhodes. Hence they are some-
times called Knights of Rhodes, and in the same

Maryculter. 159

way, from their subsequently settling in Malta,
they are occasionally designed as K?iights of Malta.
The two orders of Knights proved excellent
landlords at Maryculter. When any of their land
was not farmed by themselves in the manner after-
wards described, but leased to seculars, great care
was exercised in seeing that the lessee constantly
kept the cross of the order on the top of his
principal dwelling, as an emblem of subjection, and
that he was answerable only to the jurisdiction of
the Templar courts. Indeed, the power wielded by
the Templars within their own territory was of
such a sweeping character that even the Sheriff of
the County could not interfere in the settling of
their disputes. In 1 547, on the Sheriff of Kincar-
dineshire giving a verdict in an action which had
been instituted before him, regarding alleged mis-
cropping at Mains of Maryculter, the Lords of
Council and Session found in a suspension which
was thereupon raised by the Preceptor of Tor-
phichen, that " the haill landis and barony at Mare-
cultir" belonged "to his sayd preceptorie in fre
regalite," having been " in tymes bypast replegit
fra the Schiref of Kincardin and his deputis, to
the fredome and priuelege of the sayd regalite and
baillies courttis thairof,"^ and therefore suspended
the said judgment, because the " said Schiref and
his deputis hes na jurisdictioun within the said Lord
of Sanct Johnnis landis, becauss he is fre quite and

I. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff", III., p. 359.

l6o Maryculie7\

exemit frae all sic jugeis within this realme as the
confirmation of the priuilege and exemptioun given
and grantit be diwerss Kingis to the said Lord
and his predecessours " bears. The decreet follow-
ing upon this finding was duly confirmed by Queen
Mary.i

During the respective proprietorships of these
two orders at Maryculter they built a preceptory for
themselves, as before stated, and a church for their
tenants, which was of so substantial workmanship
that the building was used as the parish church
until the latter years of last century. A portion
of one of the walls of this old fabric is still standing.
Part of the walls of the preceptory was used in the
building of the mansion house of Maryculter,
erected in 1728 by Sir Gilbert Menzies, who then
owned the property. There was for long preserved
at the farm of Tilburies, in the neighbourhood, a
carved black oak door, said to have been the door
of the Grand Master's room.

Thus has passed away the glory, and well-nigh
the memory, of those who spread the knowledge,
and promoted the exercise of religion among a
simple, homely, ignorant people, who no doubt
often blessed the band of pious men that brought
to them the light of saving truth and heavenly
consolation. Only in imagination dwells the
picture of the daily work of these old Knights,
returned from Rhodes or Malta, spending the

I. K'a^Sf^^xixes,, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 359.

Maryculter. l6i

quiet evening of their troubled lives amid simple
duties, and rehearsing to noble-spirited youth the
wondrous valour of those soldiers of the cross who
were faithful unto death.

John Fleming, who always signed himself
"Joannes Fleming, Miles" '^ and who was the local
Grand Master about 141 5, had signalized himself
in arms at Rhodes, but here he left a more enduring
memorial than military fame, for the divisions of
the estate and parish* which he marked out are
still adhered to, and there remain the march stones
which he erected, the Maltese cross upon which
reminds us that, in bygone centuries, this brave and
gallant man held powerful sway in Marj^culter.
Several documents shew that the good old Knight
frequently acted as Arbiter in disputes regarding
boundaries. -

In 1528, the Scottish Parliament of James V.
passed an Act authorising religious corporations to
feu out their lands to such substantial men as

1. Walker's The Knights Templar in and around Aberdeen,

pp. 13-14.

2. Ibid.

*"Thir ar merys of the landis of Cultyr pertenand to the
Tempill of Saynt Jon. To beg)ni at the est half / at the burn of
The Ardach as it descendis in the watir of Dee. And sua endland
that burn and about Tulyschetir to the hill of Knokyndythir. And
sua furth west to Drumdothrik. And sua to the syde of Corsley.
And syne furth on the west half to the Cors of Brechmount. And
syne downe betwixt the twa Essyntulis to the Crag of Essyntuly.
And sua downe to Drumdarach / and thar wes a Cors. And sua
in the watir of Dee / on the west half of the land of Cultyr towart
Durrys." Collections Aberdeen and Banff, p. 300.
M

1 62 ' Maryciilter.

might be expected to improve them. Seven years
later, the provisions of this Act were taken advant-
age of in Maryculter, and Kingcausie, the first
break in the property of the Knights, was sold to a
cadet of the Irvine family. In the same year
Blairs went to Gilbert Menzies, laird of Findon,
and shortly afterwards Baillie Collinson, or Collison,
of Aberdeen, acquired Auchlunies.

When the Knights finally abandoned their old
home in 1548, there were only six Knights and one
Chaplain remaining in the preceptory. There
were two Polwarts, two Wedderburns, one Duncan-
son, one Ingles, and the Chaplain, whose name was
MacNicoI.i

Bishop Keith says that, at the Reformation, Sir
James Sandilands, the last preceptor, resigned all
the lands of the Order in Scotland into the hands
of Queen Mary, who feued them out again to Sir
James for Ten thousand crowns, and a yearly
payment of Five hundred merks. She also erected
all the lands into a temporal lordship, in favour of
him and his heirs, by a charter under the Great
Seal, dated 24th January, 1563. Thereafter Sir
James disponed all the Temple lands lying in the
shires of Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Stirling, Kincar-
dine, and Aberdeen, in favour of James Tennent of
Lynhousc, and Robert Williamson, writer in Edin-
burgh, for Ten thousand merks, reserving to him-
self out of the disposition the lands of Torphichen,

I. Walker's The Knights Templar in and around Aberdeen,
p. 15-

Maryculter. 163

Listen, Dennie, Thankerton, Balantradoch, and
Maryculter, as also his right to the churches of
Torphichen, Temple, Inchmachan, Maryculter,
Aboyne, Tulloch, and Kilbartha,* with the
respective lands belonging to each. Sometime
thereafter Tennent and Williamson conveyed their
whole rights to Thomas, Lord Binning, ancestor of
the Earl of Haddington, and ultimately the right of
patronage of the church of Maryculter passed into
the hands of the Duffs of Fetteresso and Culter.

For many centuries farming has been the chief
occupation of the inhabitants of Maryculter, and if
we would know something of the management of
the estates by the Templars, we may find the
information in the general account of the subject
by Mr. Cosmo Innes, who says that the greater
part of the land was in their own hands, and that
they cultivated it by their own villains from their
several granges. "The grange itself, the chief
house of each of the abbey-baronies, must have been
a spacious farm-steading. In it were gathered the
cattle, implements, and stores needed for the
cultivation of their demesne lands, or mains, and
their women and families. A monk, or lay brother
of the abbey, superintended the whole. Adjoining
the grange was a mill, with all its pertinents and
appearance, and reality of comfort, and a hamlet,
occupied by the cottars, sometimes thirty or forty
families in number. The situation of these was far

* One of the old names for Towie.

164 Maryculter.

above the class now known by that name. Under
the monks of Kelso each cottar occupied from one
to nine acres of land along with his cottage. Their
rents varied from one to six shillings yearly, with
services not exceeding nine days' labour in the
year. Beyond the hamlet or cottar town were
steadings of the husbandi, or husbandmen, the next
class of the rural population. Each of these held
of the abbey a definite quantity of land, called a
husbandland. Each tenant of a husbandland kept
two oxen, and six united their oxen to work the
common plough. The Scotch plough of the
thirteenth century was a ponderous machine drawn,
when the team was complete, by twelve oxen.
The husbandland was estimated to be about
twenty-six acres," The lease of Mains of Mary-
culter, with the " Couttoune of the samyn," to
Alexander Lyndesay, in 1545, shews that its dura-
tion was to be for nineteen years, and that the rent
was to be " tuenty aucht pundis vsuale money of
Scotland . . , togidder with vij dosand of
pultrie."^ Up to the beginning of the present
century the farms extended across the whole breadth
of the parish, by which means every tenant had a
portion of all the different soils,- There were then
twenty eight ploughgates of land reclaimed, and
the rent varied from ten to twenty shillings per
acre. In 1783 there were forty to fifty carts, thirty
six ploughs, one wagon, and one coach in the

1. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 596.

2, Old Statistical Account of Scotland, VI,, p. 80.

Maryculter. 165

parish. In the end of last century females from
seven years of age and upwards were employed
mostly in spinning and the knitting of stockings,
for which combed wool was given out by the
hosiers of Aberdeen, in different parts of the
parish on certain days, called factory days, on
which also the wrought stockings were received.^
Each pair cost for spinning and knitting from one
shilling to three shillings and sixpence, the cheaper
being considered the more profitable.

In 1790 the male population was made up
among others of four tailors, ten weavers, four
Wrights, four sailors, four shoemakers, four
gardeners, three discharged soldiers, and two
Chelsea pensioners.

There are two graveyards, one at the old church
by the side of the river, and the other at Kirktov/n
adjoining the new church. In the first-named there
are several interesting tombstones, including those
of two Knights Templars, who are represented in
full armour.

If we may accept as accurate the old accounts
of the age of the parishioners at their death, Mary-
culter seems to have had not a few who saw many
years beyond the threescore and ten. In the old
churchyard a tombstone records the death, in 1823,
of Euphemia Arthur, aged 102 years ; while George
Forbes, who died in 1761, was 106 years of age.
The old Statistical Account would seem to indicate
that there were giants, as well as patriarchs, in the
I. Statistical Account of Scotland, VI., p. 82.

1 66 Maryculter.

parish in those days, when it says, " A man who
died lately was six feet seven inches high. A
widow woman who died last year was aged 102 ;
and a man died lately at the advanced age of 104."

Traditions of importance are not abundant in
this parish, and considering the lengthened period
during which the Templars and Hospitallers held
sway in it, some echoes of their times might natur-
ally have been expected, for those days were the
fruitful soil of romance. A small amount of un-
usual fact frequently serves as the foundation for
weird and wonderful legendary structures, especially
when ignorance and want of the spirit of indepen-
dent investigation, combined with the superstitious
credulity latent in the mind at all times, and par-
ticularly prevalent when physical phenomena are
not examined or understood, both lead men to
ascribe strange events to supernatural agency,
and foster a ready acceptance of tales in proportion
to their mystery.

There was much in connection with the Temp-
lars to give food for superstitious craving, and to
excite the fancy and imagination of the credulous.
They were admitted into the order with rites rigidly
kept from common knowledge, and these gradually
assumed, in the popular imagination, shapes of a
strange, mysterious, and awful character. The wan-
derings of the Templars in many countries, and
particularly in the Holy Land, the home of so many
sacred memories and devout conceptions, produced
among the comrnon people that deep awe and reve-

Maryculter. 167

rence which have frequently been the foundation of
legend. Many of the warrior members had been in
the world's most sacred city — Jerusalem, and had
gazed on the most precious spot on earth — the tomb
of Christ. All this and much else naturally made
the Templars and Hospitallers the objects of popu-
lar veneration, and their deeds were in consequence
thickly woven into the vast garment of legend
and tradition, with which, in ignorant times,
the uninformed mind clothed the simple facts of
life, and concealed the plain events of history.

Investigation into the legendary lore of this par-
ticular locality has not been very fruitful in results.
The only legend which 1 have heard has, according
to expectation, been found to rest upon the deeds
of the valiant Knights of the Temple, and their con-
nection with the district. The small substratum of
fact that may be in it is almost entirely buried
under the weight of purely legendary matter, but
all the same the narrative may not prove uninter-
esting to the reader.

Godfrey Wedderburn was a native of the parish
of Maryculter, his father having settled there after
holding high office in the household of the Pope.
The Templars were frequent visitors at Wedder-
burn's house, and there, from his earliest years, the
young man's soul had been thrilled by tales of the
dangers faced, and the matchless valour displayed
by the soldiers of the Temple in the Holy Land.
Most or all of the narrators had taken part in, or
been eye-witnesses of the events they described,

1 68 Maryculter.

which gave the greater vividness to their narrations,
and the more powerfully impressed their youthful
hearer.

When of age young Wedderburn joined the
ranks of the Templars, and, having undergone the
necessary probation, went to the Holy Land, where
he signalized himself in many a bloody engage-
ment, receiving promotion and other marks of
distinction for his bravery. As his successes
accumulated, his thirst for glory proportionally
increased. Almost despising the honours won in
the ordinary course of battle, however fierce, he
began to seek opportunities for the display of his
valour without wisdom or discretion. On a certain
day when the Templar army stood awaiting the
order to advance and engage the hordes of the
opposing Saracens, Wedderburn thought that the
time had come for a crowning act of heroism, so
without hesitation, and against command, he boldly
galloped out against the stalwart commander who
was marshalling and exhorting the hot-blooded
Saracen bands for the approaching fray. The
dusky warrior showed no indisposition to accept
the combat, but his fiery followers, rushing forth
like angry bees, hurled their javelins at the hated
heretic, and he fell with many wounds. In an
instant the battle was general, and continued with
unabated bitterness till darkness put an end to the
carnage. When Wedderburn regained conscious-
ness, all was still around, and the fierce glare of the
eastern sun had given place to the mellow bright-

Maryculter. 169

ness of the moon. With great pain and difficulty
he struggled to his feet, and, tottering onward
towards some trees he dimly saw in the near
distance, he at last reached what proved to be a
well of water, around which were evidences that it
was frequently visited, and must thus be near to
human habitations. The well was deep, however,
and the tinkling of the drops that fell from its
dripping sides only mocked the cravings of his
burning thirst. Exhausted by loss of blood and
maddening agony he sank unconscious to the
ground, and his fevered dream of trouble was
broken only by the faint sensation of cold water
touching his burning lips, and a gentle hand
supporting his aching head. He awakened to
behold the dark but tender eyes of a Saracen
damsel gazing into his face with affectionate wist-
fulness to catch the first signs of returning
consciousness. She was a true daughter of the
east, and lovely as a poet's dream of beauty. With
all her loveliness she had that which only high birth
for generations can give, and which unmistakeably
declares the noble origin of its possessor. She was
in fact none other than the daughter of the very
chief whose blood the Templar had sought to spill
as a proof of his martial prowess. Why she shewed
this tender solicitude for one whose creed and name
were accursed among the people of her country we
are not informed — such questions find no place in
legends. She could not take him to her home, or
inform her people of his whereabouts, for his instant

170 Maryailter.

slaughter would have seemed to them a sacred
duty ; so she bore him to a cave in a rock at hand,
and there laid him, tending his wounds and
supplying his wants. To allay his fears and comfort
him in his lonely helpless condition and situation,
she took from her breast and presented to him a
simple ring of gold, having one small stone of
great brightness set in it, which she declared to be
a charm that would protect him from all the
dangers of war and disease, but could be worn only
by those of spotless purity and unsullied honour.

For months the fair and faithful preserver of
his life tended him with unceasing devotion,
soothing his wounds by the simple but effective
remedies known among her people, and cheering
his lonely hours of enforced seclusion by many a
magic tale of love and war, for he understood and
could speak the language of her country, and no
doubt told her much of the story of his life, both in
the quiet parish far away in the land of clouds and
cold, and in the ranks of the defenders of the
Catholic faith. She loved him with a consuming
love. He loved her with a deep and grateful love,
but regard to the vows of his order compelled him
to give no evidence of it either by word or sign.

Some months after the battle in which he had
been so severely wounded, and when he had almost
regained the vigour of health, a great company of
Templars journeying to Europe passed that way,
and he seized the opportunity of quitting his
strange and dangerous hiding-place, and joining

Maryculter. 1 7 1

the band without the knowledge of the noble
Saracen who had almost risked her own life in
order to preserve his.

He returned to Maryculter, and stayed there for
a year or two in quietude, for the Saracens were
peaceful. But one Sabbath morning, as the Temp-
lars and their dependants were passing into church
for early mass, their attention was attracted by the
closely veiled figure of a tall and graceful woman,
whose garments, however, showed signs of long and
dusty travel. Silent she stood, with head posed in
the attitude of pensive sadness, yet through her veil
her eager eyes flashed as she scanned closely the
features of every passer by. Almost all had
passed in, when Godfrey Wedderburn walked
slowly up to the door of the little chapel. On
his approach, the hitherto almost motionless woman
at first tottered as if about to fall, then, wildly passing
her hands to her head, she tore aside her veil
and exposed the still surpassingly lovely, though
slightly saddened face of Godfrey's erstwhile
ministering angel. With a scream she threw her
arms around his neck and clung to him as the
tiger clings to his prey.

The general body of the worshippers were
amazed beyond expression, for they reckoned that,
however lovely she might be, the colour of her face
declared the nature of her mission and her master.
Godfrey's fellow Templars cast pitying looks on
him, for the woman's dark-complexioned face, ex-
cept for its beauty, was nothing wonderful to them ;

172 Maryculter.

rather in it they saw at once the explanation of the
mystery, and read the old and sometimes fatal
truth, that love is stronger than death.

The Grand Master sternly commanded that the
woman be removed, and that Wedderburn wait
upon him when service ended. The poor girl,
sobbing and struggling hysterically, was taken to a
neighbouring house and tenderly cared for. Wed-
derburn appearing before the Grand Master frankly
detailed the whole of the events which had led up
to the affecting occurrence. But his story, although
received as correct in the main, was nevertheless
disbelieved, in so far as it maintained his honour
and his faithfulness to his vows. The Templar's
blood warmed as the Master persisted in assuming
that he had not acted with the honour that became
a soldier of the Temple, until, in the heat of un-
governable rage, he sprang at the Master and
struck him to the ground. Such an insult offered
to one of that rank, and such a breach of the strict
rule of Templar obedience could be adequately
punished only by the death of the offender, and so
Godfrey Wedderburn was sentenced to be led forth
at midnight beyond the buildings, and there pay
the penalty of his unbridled anger ; but, in con-
sideration of his great services, and conspicuous
courage on many fields, he was to be saved the in-
dignity of dying by another's hand, and to be per-
mitted to plunge the dagger into his own breast.
The Templars pleaded with the Master to reduce
the severity of his sentence, but he was inflexible.

Maryculter. 1 73

When the appointed hour arrived, Wedderburn
went forth to the place of death, accompanied by
the Grand Master and the sorrow-stricken Temp-
lars, whose flickering torches, dimly shining, showed
his sad but fearless face. Summoned to halt at
the spot where disobedient and unworthy members
of the order were wont to suffer for disgrace, he
bared his breast in the light cast from the torches,
held by the trembling hands of his mourning com-
panions, standing with their faces covered in their
cloaks, and, anew declaring his innocence, and
asking as one last favour that his body might be
buried in some lonely spot, where his spirit might
hear the gurgle of the stream, and thus be re-
minded of the signal deliverance at the spring in
the burning plains of Palestine, he drove the dagger
to the hilt into the heart that had never feared
aught but dishonour.

As he fell to the ground the woods and valleys
resounded with a scream that struck terror into the
hearts of strong men, and into the presence of the
strange assembly sprang the Saracen maiden, with
hair dishevelled, and eyes glistening with the wild
glare of delirium. Rushing to the place where her
warrior lover lay, she snatched from his blood-
stained breast the charm she had given him, and,
casting it around her neck, summoned God and
heaven to witness that she, and he whose lifeless
body lay on the dewy grass, were pure as the
stars that studded that midnight sky. Then grief
loosened her tongue in swift and tragic eloquence,

1 74 Mary cutter.

and some who understood it trembled, and some
regarded it as but the raving of a mind unhinged.
Again, tearing the ring from off her heaving breast
she dared the Master to put it on, and see whether
there were truth in her words, and justice in
heaven for the wronged.

Prompted possibly by contempt for the super-
stitious warning of the infidel Saracen, he de-
fiantly threw the charm round his neck, and stood
forth into full view of the astounded Templars,
that they might see how false had been the words,
and how vain the threats, of this daughter of the
desert. He had but opened his lips, perhaps to
rail or sneer, when a blinding light flashed from
heaven, and a blue bolt of fire struck deep down
into the earth where the Master stood, and he was
seen no more. Does not the " Thunder Hole " to
this day witness to the truth of this story ?

The Saracen shouted a mad shout of joy,
plucked the dagger from Godfrey's gory breast, and
buried it deep in her own bosom.

The Templars fled in consternation, and refused
to visit the spot until the dawn of day should make
it safe to approach a place so manifestly haunted by
the spirits of the unseen. They found the two
corpses of the lovers lying almost side by side, and
near to them the ring by which the stain had been
wiped from two pure youthful lives, and the swift
and terrible vengeance of heaven brought on the
perpetrator of injustice.

The Templars, fearing to keep the charm, cast

Maryculter. 175

it out into the fields, where yet, at midnight, once
a year, on the date of the woeful tragedy, it shines
with a pale blue light, and he who finds may wear
it, and live scatheless from all disease, but let him
be mindful that it brings not a blessing, but a curse
to the breast that is not warmed by a pure and
noble heart.

Godfrey Wedderburn's stiffened body was
placed in the chapel to await interment, and those
keeping vigil saw an angel like to the form of the
beautiful Saracen hover over it, and kiss its pale
and bloodless lips, and they thought that for a
moment a wave of joyous expression passed over
the cold and motionless features of the dead.

Regard was had to his dying request, and they
laid him in a quiet nook near to the Corbie Linn.
In the same grave they placed the body of her
whom love had brought from the distant deserts
of her beloved country, that together they might
listen to the murmur of the stream, till awakened
by the rushing sound of angels' wings.

Not so long ago men used to tell with bated
breath of having seen, at dead of night, a fully
armed soldier gallop along the glen and over the
hill of Kingcausie, as they echoed to the thunder
of his war-cry.

Sometimes also near the Corbie Linn a
dark complexioned woman of wondrous beauty
has been seen sitting sadly on the rocks, or
gliding through the adjacent woods, singing the
while in a low entrancing voice a song of tearful

iy6 Maryculter.

sadness. Watchers by the bed of the sick have
often seen the same dark and beautiful figure, with
tear-dimmed eyes and blood-stained robe, enter the
room and beckon to the sick one, and they have
thereby known that the last farewell must soon be
spoken, and the loved voice heard no more forever,
in this world.

ESTATE OF MARYCULTER.

The lands of Maryculter and Ashentilly were in
the possession of the Knights of St. John of
Jerusalem till 1540, in September of which year Sir
Walter Lyndesay, the preceptor of Torphichen,
with the consent of the master of the Hospital of
St. John, granted a charter to his beloved " germano
fratri Alexandro Lyndesay" of the lands of " Essin-
tully" with the adjacent fishings on the Dee.^ Five
years later Lyndesay had a lease of the " Manis of
Mareculter and the teynd schawls of the said Manis
with the Cottoune " thereof, being bound under
the lease to furnish his superior with " thre barrell
of salmont yeirlie for the Weill Watter anentis
Furd, conforme to the auld tak maid abefore."-

The Weill and the Furd are still known, and
till quite recently the fishermen shot their nets
from the Ford into the Weal, at the top of which

1. Kvi\xQ^\'C\t% Aberdeen aiid Banff, III., p. 595-6.

2, Ibid, p. 596.

Estate of Maryadter. 177

is the ancient Peter Well of Peterculter. " The
Ford was the ferryboat station, until the Dee
changed its course at this point, after which it was
removed to the Inch Farm."^

Early in 1547 Sir James Sandilands, Lord St.
John and preceptor of Torphichen, granted to
Alexander Lyndesay a new lease for nineteen
years of the tithes of " Ester Essintully and Cottoun
of the Mains of Mariculter," the annual rent of the
same being stated at Eight, pounds usual money. -
Lyndesay seems to have cohibined the peaceful
pursuit of farming with the exciting profession of
arms, for he took an active part in the disastrous
battle of Pinkie, in which he was slain. "^

In 1563 the whole lands of the order of St.
John were erected into a temporal barony for Lord
Torphichen, from one of whose successors the
manor place of Maryculter and the adjoining
lands were bought, about i6i8, by Menzies of
Pitfodels, whose predecessors had long before
owned Blairs.*

The estate was bought in 181 1 from John
Menzies by General the Hon. William Gordon,^ an
officer of distinction, who was Colonel of the 21st
Fusiliers. He was also for many years a member
of the Imperial Parliament, and a Groom of the

1. 1qi\\s>€^ Epitaphs, II., p. 124.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen and Banff, III., p. 597.

3. Ibid, p. 359.

4. Jervise's Epitaphs, II., p. 124.

5. Title Deeds of Estate.
N

178 Maryculter.

Bed-chamber of George 1 11.^ He greatly altered
and added to the house of Maryculter, to which
he was much attached. He died in 18 16, and
was succeeded by his son, William Gordon, who
carried the house bell of Maryculter to Fyvie after
he ceased to live there. In 1839 he disposed of
the greater portion of the property, which is noticed
under the chapter Altries. He died in 1847, and
was succeeded by Captain William Cosmo Gordon,
H.E.I.C.'s Artillery, who married Mary Grace,
third daughter of Sir Robert Abercromby Bart., of
Birkenbog and Forglen. As he left no heir, his
second brother. Captain Alexander Henry Gordon,
of the Indian Navy, became proprietor in 1879.
Captain Gordon died in Aberdeen in March, 1884,
and was succeeded by Sir Maurice Duff Gordon. -

The mansion house is situated on the south
bank of the Dee amid surroundings of considerable
amenity. It is approached by a carriage drive
nearly a mile in length, and flanked by finely
grown trees, which, in many cases, bear the marks
of great age. The older portion of the present
house was probably built about 161 8, when the
property came into the hands of Menzies of
Pitfodels, who is said to have long used the clock
tower as an oratory. A fire which broke out
during divine service on Sunday, 13th March,
1720, did considerable damage to the building.

Within the grounds is an oval hollow, called the

1. Castles of Aberdeenshire, p. 61.

2. Title Deeds of Estate.

Estate of A I tries. 1 79

" Thunder Hole," which at one time measured over
eighty yards across and about thirty feet in depth,
but it is now being gradually filled up. Tradition
says it was originally formed, under weird circum-
stances, by a thunderbolt, and the spot was for long
considered the reverse of " canny."

ESTATE OF ALTRIES.

This estate, which originally formed part of the
lands belonging to the Knights Templars of Mary-
culter, was the property of John Menzies of
Pitfodels at the beginning of the present century,
when it passed to the Gordon family. It was after-
wards acquired by the trustees of James Kinloch,
of Jermyn Street, St, James's, London, by dis-
position, dated 31st December, 1839.

The Maryculter lands included in the dis-
position are thus enumerated : — " The lands of
Ashentillies, Bogfon, Muirskie, Cockley, Standing
Stanes, Hillbrae, Burnside, East and West Sides,
Crynoch, with the Miln and Miln Croft of Crynoch,
Wettshaw, the lands of Stobhall, excepting those
parts thereof formerly occupied by James Reid, the
lands of Gateside, Parkhead, and Donald's Garth
Fishing of Maryculter, together with the teinds and
haill pertinents and privileges."

Mr. James Kinloch's trustees thereafter granted
a deed of entail of the estates of Park and the
above portions of Maryculter (now commonly

1 80 Maryculter.

known as the estate of Altries) in favour of the
late Alexander John Kinloch, and the substitute
heirs of entail therein mentioned. When the entail
was subsequently reduced, Park was sold, but
Altries is still held by the representatives of the
late Mr. Kinloch.

The name Altries does not occur in any of the
title deeds of the estate, but when the mansion
house was built, soon after the lands were acquired,
it was called the House of Altries, and is believed
to have been so named from the lordship of
Altrie, part of the Pitfour estate in Buchan, of
which Mr. James Kinloch at one time held a
portion as a qualification for a freehold vote in
Aberdeenshire.

The mansion house and estate form a compact
and desirable property.

ESTATE OF KINGCAUSIE.

The lands of Kingcausie were acquired from the
Knights of St, John of Jerusalem in 1535 by Henry,
third son of Alexander Irvine of Drum. He
married Jean, the eldest daughter of the first
Collison of Auchlunies.

In 1592 the proprietor was John Irvine, who was
keeper of the whole salmon fishings belonging to
the town of Aberdeen between Kincardine O'Neil
and Aberdeen.^ The office had been attended

I. Privy Council Register, IV., p. 748.

Estate of Kingcausie. 1 8 1

with considerable risk, for it became necessary to
take caution from certain parties, " that they
would not harm the said John Irvine." In his
capacity of keeper of the salmon fishings, Irvine, in
September, 1604, became cautioner for Alexander
Irvine of Drum for Five hundred merks that he
" would not slay any salmon in forbidden time."
Irvine had at least three sons, Alexander, Andrew,
and John. A daughter, Mary, married Thomas
Johnston of Caskieben.'^ In 1596 he acquired
from Alexander Jaffray, burgess of Aberdeen, the
lands of Sheddocksleys in the parish of Newhills,
and, in the following year, he and Alexander and
John, his sons, as "tutors of John Irving" his grand-
son, granted them to Thomas Forbes, younger,
burgess of Aberdeen. -

On 17th March, 1630, Alexander Irvine was
admitted a Burgess of Aberdeen. On the same
date he was served heir to his father in half a net's
salmon fishing on the water of Don.^ At this
time the struggles between the Covenanters and
Royalists were so incessant and severe that Irvine,
having visited Montrose, in company with the
young laird of Drum, rendered himself obnoxious
to the Estates, who offered a reward of Five
thousand merks for his apprehension. It is related
by Spalding that upon the night of Saturday the
17th August, 1644, Irvine, while on his way to

1. Douglas Baronage, p. 38.

2. Antiquities, Aberdeen aitd Banffy III., pp. 216-217.

3. Miscellany, New Spalding Club, I., p. 155.

1 82 Maryculter.

Aberdeen, was met by William Forbes, natural son
of John Forbes of Leslie, who happened to be coming
out of that town towards Banchory-Devenick,
where his father then resided. The meeting
took place about the "Crabstane." Forbes, anxious
to gain the reward, attempted to make Irvine a
prisoner, but the latter " being ane fyne gentilman
stormit to be tane with the lyk of him" ; whereupon
Forbes drew a pistol and shot Irvine dead be-
fore he could defend himself Instead of being
brought to trial and executed for this cruel murder,
Forbes was esteemed as having done good service ;
but just retribution, as was then considered, fell
upon him in the following year, inasmuch as when
firing a musket he had his right hand shot away.

On 20th September, 17 15, James Irvine, the
laird of the period, joined the Earl Marischal and
his party at the proclamation of the Pretender as
King, at the Cross of Aberdeen. On that occasion
the health of the banished Prince was drunk with
great enthusiasm ; at night the bells were rung
and the town illuminated, while a lawless mob
broke the windows of the supporters of the House
of Hanover.^

By the death of her brother and grandfather the
property passed to Ann Irvine, who, in 1783,
married Claude Boswell of Balmuto in Fife,
advocate, afterwards Lord Balmuto, by whom she
had one son and two daughters. The son, John
Irvine Boswell, succeeded, and his history is told
I. Book of Bon- Accord, p. 83.

Estate of Kingcausie. 183

on a well-known monument on the hill of Auchlee,
which is one of the landmarks of the district. The
monument is a massive circular tower rising from
an octagonal base, on one side of which is the
following inscription : —

In memory of John Irvine Boswell, of Balmuto and
Kingcausie, born 28th December, 1785 ; died 23RD
December, i860. A man who loved his Saviour, walked

STEADFASTLY WITH HIS GOD, AND WHOSE RULE OF LIFE WAS
"whatsoever ye DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE
NAME OF THE LORD JESUS ChRIST." In EARLY LIFE HE

JOINED THE Coldstream Guards, and carried their

COLOURS IN THE BATTLE OF TaLAVERA. RETIRING FROM THE
ARMY HE SETTLED AT KiNGCAUSIE, AND LIVED TO TRANSFORM
THE NATURAL BARRENNESS OF THE ESTATE INTO LUXURIOUS
FERTILITY. He WILL BE LONG REMEMBERED IN THE DISTRICT
FOR THE ENLIGHTENED ZEAL HE DISPLAYED IN THE INTRO-
DUCTION OF ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS OF MODERN AGRICULTURE,
AND HE DID NOT CONFINE HIS ATTENTION TO HIS OWN ESTATES,
HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BEING EVER AT THE SERVICE
OF HIS NEIGHBOURS, RICH AND POOR ALIKE. In EVERY

position and relation of life he maintained with rare
fidelity the character of a christian gentleman, and
he died in peace, trusting simply in the merits of his
Saviour for acceptance with his God. His sorrowing
WIDOW, Margaret Irvine Boswell, erected this monument
AS a solace in her bitter bereavement. — A.D. mdccc. lxii.

This lady was the daughter of James Christie of
Durie, and died on i8th April, 1875, aged 86 years.
Boswell left no issue. He had two sisters, the
younger of whom died unmarried, while the elder
married Mr. Syme, drawing-master of Dollar
Academy, and had issue a son and a daughter.
The Boswell estates were divided between these

1 84 Maryculter.

two — the Balmuto property going to the son, and
the Kingcausie portion to the daughter, who is
married to Archer Irvine Fortescue of Swanbister,
in Orkney.

ESTATE OF BLAIRS.

This estate which comprises about eleven hundred
acres, and lies contiguous to Kingcausie, extends
from the river Dee southward the whole breadth of
the parish. There also belongs to the estate the
Inch of Blairs, lying between Murtle and the north
bank of the river Dee, which was formed many
years ago through the Dee leaving its natural course
and cutting through several fields. A consider-
able portion of the soil near the river is good and
in a high state of cultivation, but towards the south
it gets thin and coarse till it terminates in land
altogether unsuitable for cultivation.

Like most of the other properties in Maryculter,
Blairs belonged originally to the Knights of St.
John of Jerusalem, who, for the benefit of their
tenants in the east end of their extensive property,
had established a parsonage at Blairs where a priest
resided.

By charter dated 15th December, 1535, Gilbert
Menzies (better known by the sobriquet of Banison
Gib)y then laird of Findon, acquired an absolute
right from Sir Walter Lyndesay, Lord St. John,
Preceptor of Torphichen, with the special license

* • ■

Estate of Blairs. 1 85

and consent of the Master of the Hospital of St.
John of Jerusalem, the estate of " Blairs, Estland,
Tuliskeith, and Ester Tilboury, together with the
Mill of Maryculter." This grant was subsequently
confirmed by a charter under the Great Seal dated
2nd June, 1542. Menzies married Marjory Chal-
mers, daughter of Provost Alexander Chalmers of
Murtle, and by her had the following family : —
Thomas, his heir, Alexander, Andrew, David, John
Gilbert, and a daughter, who was married to John
Dempster of Auchterless. He was provost of
Aberdeen for twenty-four years, and, along with
Baillie Collison, represented the burgh in the first
Parliament of James V., receiving 6/8 per day of
expenses, and eight horsemen to attend in their
train, that they might appear at court with a
splendour becoming the representatives of the
opulent city.^

Menzies held several mortgages over the estate
of Pitfodels, and it seems to have been his ambition
to get the whole property into his family. An
opportunity occurred during his lifetime, and he
does not appear to have been slow to avail him-
self of it. Provost Alexander Reid of Pitfodels
left an only child — Marion — who thus became
his heiress. A prior compact had been entered
into between Menzies and Reid that the daughter
of the latter should wed Thomas, the son and heir
of the former, so that thereby all the properties
might become united. After Reid's death, his

I. Thorns' History of Aberdeen^ I., p. i66.

1 86 Mar}>culter.

widow, Margaret Crawford, did her best to thwart
Menzies in the implementing of the alleged agree-
ment, and considerable litigation took place in the
local courts over the custody of Marion Reid, who
was at the time a minor. Menzies, 'however,
appears to have got his way in the dispute, for he
produced the King's letters in his favour, granting
him the ward and marriage to his son Thomas of
the young heiress, in terms of the prior compact
with Reid. The marriage, which had been con-
tracted under such singular circumstances, took
place on 12th January, 15 20-1, and proved an
eminently happy one.

Thomas Menzies had an active and eventful
career. At Michaelmas, 1525, he was elected
provost of Aberdeen, and during the following fifty
years he held the chair for the long period of forty
years,only demitting office temporarily to allow some
member of his family to enjoy it for a short period.
He was on several occasions chosen to represent the
burgh in Parliament ; in 1 538, he acted as Marischal
Depute of Scotland ; and, in 1543, he was Comp-
troller of the royal household, an ofl[ice which he
seems to have held for several years. He died at
an advanced age in 1576.

In the end of the sixteenth century the lands of
Blairs belonged to Mr, Andrew Harvey, who would
appear to have experienced much difficulty in de-
fending his legal rights. On 21st April, 1587, it
was complained to the Privy Council, " That the
said Mr. Andro hes all and haill the salmond fisch-

Estate of Blair s. 1 87

eing of that part of the Watter of Dee under the
hauch of the Blairis pertaining to him, and, con-
forme to his rychtis and titHs thairof, hes bene in
possessioun of the same, be himselfif, his servandis,
and fischearis in his name ther divers yeiris bigane ;
quhill of lait, upoun the tent day of Julii last, that
Johnne Irwing in Kingcoussy, Richard, Andro,
Alexander, and Johnne Irwingis, his sons, Thomas,
and Walter Irwingis his brethir, Alexander Irwing,
sone to the said Walter, with uthiris,thair compliceis,
came to that parte of the Watter foirsaid quhair the
said complenaris coble wes lokkit at his lok stok,
and maisterfuUie, and wranguslie brak the same
coble and airis thairof, and be way of deid hes
stoppit and debarrit the said complenare fra using
of the said fisheing sensyne, tending be this forme
of maisterfull oppressioun and bangstree to appro-
priate the said complenaris fisheing to thameselffis
maist wranguslie. Like as the personis foirsaidis
continualie molestis and troublis the said com-
plenare, his saidis sones [James, Thomas, and
William respectively], tennentis and servendis, in
possessioun of thair landis and levingis, pyndis
thair bestiall and guidis by all ordour of law, and
haldis thame in houssis without meit, quhairthrow
twenty of thame hes deceissit throw hunger. As
alsua they continualie ly at waitt for the saidis com-
plenaris, umbesettis thair hie wayes in thair ganging
and cuming fra thair parroche kirk of Mary Culter ;
quhairthrow they may not sauflie repair to the said
kirk without thay be sufficientlie accumpanyed with

1 88 Maryculter.

their friendis, for fear of thair lyveis. Like as thai
have avowit and affermed that, quhenevir the said
James sail repair to thair pairtis, thay sal have his
lyff, takand the gritare bauldness heirunto be
ressoun of the resett, mantenance and allowance
thay have of Alexander Irvving of Drum, being ane
man weill clannit and allyed in the cuntrey."^ The
defenders, having failed to answer the charge, were
declared rebels, but upon their subsequently finding
caution for good conduct, the sentence was recalled.
Harvey's troubles were not over, however, for in
September, 1589, a bond had to be taken that Mr.
Menzies of Durn should not molest or injure him,
nor his eldest son James, under the penalty of 2000
merks. Again on 30th January, 1590-91, caution
was granted for ;^ic)00 on behalf of John Collison
of Auchlunies, and for icxDO merks each on behalf
of John Gaw in Auchlunies, and William Cruick-
shank in Newhall of Auchlunies, that they should
not harm " Mr. Andrew Harvey his tenants or
servants." -

The estate again passed into the Menzies family,
and in the end of last century Captain David
Menzies, the proprietor, did much in the way of
laying out and improving the property.^

Captain Menzies was succeeded by his nephew,
John Menzies, who died in Edinburgh, a widower,
on nth October, 1843, aged 87 years. Jervise

1. Privy Council Register, VI., pp. 161-62.

2. Ibid^ p. 572.

3. Douglas's East Coast of Scotland, p. 226.

Estate of Blairs. 1 89

says " he was a member of the Abbotsford Club
and at his expense the volume entitled ' Extracta
E Variis Cronicis Scocie' was printed for the
members. He was one of the most accomplished
gentlemen of his time, and his purse was open to
the poor of all denominations."^ He was the last
of his race, and by deed, dated in 1827, he conveyed
the mansion house and lands to the Roman
Catholic Bishops of Scotland for the establishment
of a college for young men designed for the Roman
Catholic priesthood. During the next two years
extensive structural alterations on, and additions to,
the mansion house were made in order to adapt it
for a college. These being completed, it was
formally opened under the title of St. Mary's
College on the 2nd of June, 1829. The college,
which had previously been established at Aquhorties,
near Inverurie, was then closed, and its endow-
ment incorporated with that of Blairs.

Blairs has a special interest to the artist and to
the literary antiquary — containing as it does several
most valuable paintings and rare volumes, which
fortunately were saved from the fury of the
populace during the fierce struggles of the French
Revolution. Among the historical MSS. there are
two specially worthy of notice. One is the prayer
book of Anne of Bretagne, wife, first of Louis XI.,
and then of Charles VIII. of France ; the other is
the service book of the family of Beaton of
Balfour — both being remarkable for beauty of

I. ] aviso's Epiiap/is, II., p. 119.

igo Maryculter.

execution and variety of illustrations. One of the
rolls, written in vellum in the 14th century, contains
a poem on the Instruments of the Passion of our
Blessed Lord, or, as they are sometimes called, the
Anns of Christ. The concluding lines are thus
given : —

These armes of Christ, bothe God and man,
Seint Peter the pope descrivyed hem ( = them) ;
What man these arniis overseeth ( = despiseth).
For here {i.e., their) sinnes sori and schrive beth.

(i.e., there zvill be sorrow and penitence).^

Among the printed books are the catechism of John
Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, dated in
1552, and a perfect copy of the works of Niniane
Winzet printed in 1562.-

The more remarkable of the paintings are those
of Mary Queen of Scots, and of Cardinal Beaton,
both of which were exhibited in the Stuart
collection at the recent International Exhibition
held in Glasgow. Of the former there are two
portraits, one, a full length, measuring seven feet five
inches in height, by four feet nine inches in breadth,
the other, a three-quarter size, measuring five feet
three inches high, by four feet three inches broad.
There is a copy of the first in the possession of Queen
Victoria, but it is understood to be inferior to that
at Blairs. In the background of this picture the
execution of the Queen at Fotheringay is repre-

I Heraldic Ceiling of St. Machar, p. 148.

2. Memorials Angus and Mearns. II. pp. 252-53.

Estate of B lairs. 191

sented, along with portraits of Jane Kennedy and
Elizabeth Curie, the two maids of honour who
were present on the sad occasion. The royal arms
of Scotland are painted on the right-hand corner of
the picture, and there are three inscriptions in Latin,
the translations of which are as follow : —

(I.) MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTLAND, DOWAGER
QUEEN OF FRANCE, TRULY LEGITIMATE SOVEREIGN
OF THE KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND,
MOTHER OF JAMES, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, OP-
PRESSED BY HER OWN SUBJECTS, IN THE YEAR
1568, WITH THE HOPE AND EXPECTATION OF AID
PROMISED BY HER COUSIN, ELIZABETH, REIGNING
IN ENGLAND WENT THITHER, AND THERE, CON-
TRARY TO THE LAW OF NATIONS, AND THE FAITH
OF A PROMISE, BEING RETAINED CAPTIVE AFTER
19 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT ON ACCOUNT OF
RELIGION, BY THE PERFIDY OF THE SAME ELIZA-
BETH AND THE CRUELTY OF THE ENGLISH PAR-
LIAMENT, THE HORRIBLE SENTENCE OF DECAPI-
TATION BEING PASSED UPON HER IS DELIVERED
UP TO DEATH, AND ON THE I2TH OF THE KALENDS.
OF MARCH— SUCH AN EXAMPLE BEING UNHEARD
OF— SHE IS BEHEADED BY A VILE AND ABJECT
EXECUTIONER IN THE 45TH YEAR OF HER AGE
AND REIGN.

(2.) IN PRESENCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND
MINISTERS OF Q. ELIZABETH, THE EXECUTIONER
STRIKES WITH HIS AXE THE MOST SERENE QUEEN,
THE DAUGHTER, WIFE, AND MOTHER OF KINGS,

192 Maryailter.

AND AFTER A FIRST AND SECOND BLOW BY WHICH
SHE WAS BARBAROUSLY WOUNDED, AT THE THIRD
CUTS OFF HER HEAD.

(3.) WHILE SHE LIVED THE CHIEF PARENT AND
FOUNDRESS OF THE

SCOTCH* COLLEGE,
THUS THE ONCE MOST FLOURISHING QUEEN OF
FRANCE AND SCOTLAND ASCENDS THE FATAL
SCAFFOLD, WITH UNCONQUERED BUT PIOUS MIND,
UPBRAIDS TYRANNY AND PERFIDY, PROFESSES THE
CATHOLIC FAITH, AND PUBLICLY AND PLAINLY
PROFESSES THAT SHE ALWAYS WAS AND IS A
DAUGHTER OF THE ROMAN CHURCH,

The Queen is represented with a book in her
left hand and a crucifix in her right.

Of this and the other paintings, above referred to,
the following account by the late Right Reverend
Bishop Kyle, Vicar Apostolic of the Northern
District of Scotland, will be read with interest.
The learned prelate writes: — " The large picture
of Queen Mary belonged once to Mrs. Elizabeth
Curie, wife and widow of Gilbert Curie, one of the
Queen's Secretaries during the last years of her
life, and at her death. Mrs. Curie herself was one of
the attendants at her execution. When, and by
whom it was painted, I have never learned. The
attire and attitude of the principal figure being the
same in which, it is said, Mary appeared on the
scaffold, seem to testify decisively that the picture

* Meaning the Scofs College, Douai.

Estate of B lairs. 193

is not what can be called an original — that is
traced from the living subject under the painter's
eye. The adjuncts were evidently added by an-
other and an inferior artist, but when, I have no
means of knowing. Mrs. Curie survived her mis-
tress long, at least thirty years. She had two sons
who both became Jesuits. Of one, John, little is
known. He died in Spain. The other Hippolytus,
was long Superior, and a great benefactor of the
Scotch College of Douai. To that college he be-
queathed the property, not inconsiderable, which
he derived from his mother, and among the rest the
very picture now at Blairs. The picture remained
in that college till the French Revolution. At the
wreck of the college it was taken from its frame,
and being rolled up, was concealed* in a chimney,
the fireplace of which was built up, and was so pre-
served. After the peace of 181 5, it was taken
from its place of concealment, and conveyed first to
Paris, but ultimately to Scotland, through the late
Bishop Paterson and the Reverend John Farquhar-
son, who being, the latter Principal, the former
Prefect of Studies, in the Douai College at the
time of the Revolution, identified it as the picture
that had been kept there, according to the tradition
mentioned above.

Of the smaller picture of Queen Mary I have

* The late Rev. Charles Gordon, (well-known in Aberdeen as
I'riest Gordon, having been in charge of the Roman Catholic con-
gregation for sixty years,) then a student in the college, assisted in
concealing the picture.

O

194 Mary miter.

heard no history ; but from its inscription and
appearance I am inclined to think that it must
have been drawn when Mary was a young girl in
France before the first of her marriages, so that,
harsh and unartistic as is its execution, I look upon
it as a real original, and perhaps the only one in
existence.

We have no account of the artist by whom, or
the time when, the picture of Cardinal Beaton was
done. It was preserved from time immemorial in
the Scotch College at Rome, down to the invasion
of that city by the French in 1798. It was then
sold for a trifle, purchased off a stand in the street
by a Scotch artist of the name of Morrison, and
restored by him to Abbe McPherson, late rector of
that college, who had known it as part of the
college property, and by him brought to Blairs.
Of the excellence of its execution as a work of art
there can be no doubt."*

There is another painting, that of the Chevalier
St. George — James III. as he was called. "This
portrait was originally the property of John, Earl of
Middleton, and presented by him, along with some
other memorials, to the Scotch College, Paris,"
from which it passed to Blairs. The painting
measures sixty-eight by fifty inches, and represents
the prince in armour and pointing with a scroll in
his hand to a map of his ancestral dominions. By
his side is a page, who is supposed to be a scion of

* Memorials, Angua and Mcams, II., p. 253, «S:c.

Estate of AiicJihinies. 195

the house of Middleton. This was a Kincardineshire
family ennobled in 1660. The second earl was out-
lawed by the high court of justiciary in 1694, and
his estates were forfeited by act of parliament,
2nd July, 1695, on account of his adherence
to the cause of the exiled James II. There are
also portraits of Prince Charles Edward and the
Cardinal Duke of York (the latter a very good
painting), as also of several Scotch Catholic
bishops.

With regard to the college itself, there are at
present upwards of seventy students, with a presi-
dent and staff of professors, all in residence.
Candidates for the priesthood are sent here to
begin their course, and after passing through the
arts classes (in which particular attention is paid to
the classics) they proceed for the study of
Philosophy and Divinity to the Scots Colleges in
Rome and Valladolid, to Paris, or to the Diocesan
Seminary at Glasgow. An enlarged college is
urgently required, as Blairs is now altogether in-
adequate to the needs of the Catholic Church in
Scotland, owing to its expansion during the last
quarter of a century.

ESTATE OF .\UCHLUN1ES.

In 1535, when the Templar lands of Maryculter
were broken up and sold, the estates presently

196 Maryculter.

known as Auchlunies, Heathcot, Shannaburn, and
Westertown were, under the title of " the lands of
Auchlunies," acquired by a member of the Aber-
deen burgess family of Collinson or Collison. The
family name appears among the older group of sur-
names to be found in early local records, and the
writer of the " View of the Diocese of Aberdeen,"
in referring to the Collisons of Auchlunies says, " of
which their family there have been fifteen gener-
ations." Among the early references to the family
is the mention made of two brothers, David and
John, both of whom were admitted burgesses of
guild of Aberdeen during the middle of the fifteenth
century. The position of the brothers, socially, may
be easily determined, since one of them "married
Agnes Fichet, a daughter of Mathew Fichet at one
time alderman of the burgh. The issue of this
union was a family of three sons and one daughter.
The eldest son, John Collison, was for long con-
nected with municipal life, and was elected provost
in 1521. He married Elizabeth Leslie, the only
daughter of Alexander Leslie, the first baron of
Wardis, by whom he had a son John, and a
daughter Jean who married the first Irvine of the
neighbouring estate of Kingcausie. It is believed
that the provost was the first of the Collisons
who were lairds of Auchlunies. The stone
effigies of the first laird and his spouse Elizabeth
Leslie, may still be seen lying in one of the window
sills of the West Church, where they were removed
from Collison 's Aisle when the latter place was used

Estate of Aiichbinies. 197

as the chamber for the heating apparatus of the ad-
joining churches. On his death, about 1535, he was
succeeded in the estate by his son John, Little or
nothing is known of this second laird, further than
that he married Janet Seton, and had issue, of whom
the eldest son Gilbert became next proprietor.
Gilbert Collison was for many years one of the
magistrates of Aberdeen, and also for a time tacks-
man of the Mains of Murtle, while he appears also
to have held the lands of Foresterhill, as he is found
so designed in various deeds. He married Janet
Seton, and had a family of one son and three
daughters. The son John Collison, on his father's
death, became proprietor, and is perhaps the best
known of the lairds. He was, after serving in
several minor offices of the council, elected provost
of Aberdeen in 1 594, and subsequently represented
the burgh in the Scottish Parliament. He took a
great interest in the reparation of the northern Aisle
of St. Nicholas Church, Aberdeen, known in pre-
reformation days as the Aisle of tJie Holy Blood, but
which has since been called Collison's Aisle. He
was twice married, his first wife being Bessie Leslie,
daughter of William Leslie, fourth baron of Wardis;
his second, Jean Hay, who survived him. The family,
so far as known, consisted of Thomas, the heir, Alex-
ander, Paul, Gilbert, John who died in 1624, and
"ane berne " who was buried in St. Nicholas Church-
yard on 7th October, 1 595. Provost Collison died in
August, 1 62 1. He does not appear to have resided
at Auchlunies, and it is probable that the mansion

198 Maryailter.

house was not erected till a considerably later time
When elected to the provostship he resided in
Torry, and this being deemed a disadvantage, the
council took the matter into consideration and re-
solved that he should "transport himself, wyff,
bairnis, and familie to this burgh, and dwell therein
during the tyme of his office, and be reasoun he hes
not a ludgirig off his auin within this burght,
ordanit Alexander Ewyn, Deane off Gild, to
prouyd for ane ludging to him."

In one of the many witch trials which took
place about this time, a curious incident in the
early history of Provost Collison was revealed in
the " dittay " or charge made against " Johnnet
Wischert, Spous of Johnne Leyis." The counts of
the indictment include the following : — Item thow
beand nwrische to Issobell Collisoun, sister germann
to John Collisoun, provest, efter thow hed fosterit
the said Issobell, thow desyrit thair mother that
thow micht hef the said John Collisoun to foster
and nwriche ; quha, knawing that thi milk was neir
away, refusit to gif him the to foster. Immediatlic
thaireftir, thow past furth of the hovv^s, and bocht
rottoun poysoun to haif poysonit the said John ;
and the mother of the said John persewing the to
be in ane furie and rage, suspectit that thow wald
haif murtherit him ; and therefor Meriorie Forbes
and Meriorie Gray incontinent rypit the, and gat
wpon the the forsaid poysown quhairwith thow
thocht to haif murthourit and poysonit him.
Testifeit be the said John Collisoun [and] Meriorie

Estate of Auchlnnies. 199

Forbes."^ The charges against the poor woman
were so very circumstantial that the assize had no
difficulty in declaring her to be " ane common
witche and soscirar," and she was thereupon
sentenced to be " brint to the deid."-

Provost Collison was succeeded by his son
Thomas, who was served heir on 14th June, 1623.
He married Jean Menzies of the Pitfodels family,
and was for some time a baillie of Aberdeen.
They had at least two sons, Thomas and Gilbert,
both of whom were admitted burgesses of Aberdeen.

Thomas was succeeded in the estate by his son
Charles Collison, who, on 9th September, 1681, was
served heir to his father in the whole lands with
salmon fishings, &c., described as lying in the lord-
ship and regality of " Torphichen." Other lands,
including Nether Skellmuir in the parish of Tarves,
were acquired, but by 1749, when Charles Collison
died, the financial affairs of the family were at a
very low ebb. The lands of Auchlunies were
heavily mortgaged, and the interest not having
been paid, proceedings were instituted in the Court
of Session at the instance of James Gordon of
Banchory, the mortgagee. Under a decreet of sale
of the Court of Session the property was sold for
;^23,900 scots to Jamcs Brand, merchant in
Cullen,"^ who, after holding it for fifteen years, sold
it to Patrick Souper, merchant in Aberdeen.

1. Spalding Club Miscellany, I., p. 93.

2. Ibid, p. 97.

3. Title Deeds of Estate.

200 Maryculter.

In 1 77 1 Theophilus Ogilvie, collector of customs
in Aberdeen, became the proprietor by purchase.
During his ownership he feued off the lands of
Eastertown (now Heathcot), Westertown, and
Shannaburn. In 1810 the remainder was bought
by Alexander Gordon, who afterwards succeeded
to the estate of Ellon, on the death, in 1845, of the
Hon. William Gordon.

Gordon, who spent the early part of his life in
the army, served under the gallant but unfortunate
Sir John Moore, and passed through the Peninsular
War. He afterwards became secretary to the
Board of Manufactures in Scotland, and was
private secretary to the Earl of Ripon, when
president of the Board of Control. He was highly
esteemed, both for his excellence as a landlord and
for his remarkable strength of character. He
married Albinia Elizabeth Cumberland, by whom
he had five sons and three daughters. One of the
sons, Richard Lewis Hobart Gordon, midshipman
R. N., "was drowned, 20th May, 1835, at the wreck
of H.M.S. 'Challenger,' near Molquilla, on the coast
of Chili, in the performance of a dangerous service
essential to the safety of his shipmates, for which
he had volunteered." Another son, Bertie E. M.
Gordon, was Colonel of the 91st Argyllshire
Highlanders, and it was owing mainly to his
judicious and gallant conduct that the lives of his
men were saved on board the " Abercromby
Robertson" when she was wrecked in Table Bay.^

« I. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 349.

Estate of Heathcot. 201

Gordon held the property until 1834, when he
sold it to Peter Duguid, merchant and banker in
-Aberdeen, who, in 1827, had acquired other pro-
perties near Inverurie. Mr. Duguid died on ist
November, 1838. He was succeeded by his son
Peter, the present proprietor, who resides on
his estate of Bourtie. He is married to a daughter
of Archer Irvine Fortescue of Kingcausie.

ESTATE OF HEATHCOT.

This estate, which at one time formed part of the
lands of Auchlunies, and went by the name of
Eastertown, was sold in 1798 by Theophilus
Ogilvie, collector of customs in Aberdeen, to
Thomas Gordon of Premnay,^ whose father James
Gordon at one time owned the estate of Banchory
in the adjoining parish.

Gordon was succeeded in 1820 by his sister,
Lady Mary Bannerman, widow of the eminent
physician. Sir Alexander Bannerman of Kirkhill, in
the parish of Dyce, who held the appointment of
Professor of Medicine in King's College and
University of Aberdeen.

In 1822 John Garioch became proprietor, and
three years later acquired a further portion of
Auchlunies from its then proprietor Alexander
Gordon. He erected the mansion house, and took

I. Title Deeds of Estate.

202 Maryculter.

a great interest in the management and improv-e-
ment of the property. Miss Margaret Garioch,
sister of the previous proprietor, succeeded, and at
her death, her trustees sold the lands to James
Fraser, merchant in Aberdeen, on whose decease
the property was exposed to public sale, when it
was bought by Adam Mitchell, builder in
Aberdeen.

Mr. Mitchell was a native of the parish of
Kennethmont, his father, James Mitchell, being
tenant of the farm of " Christ's Kirk," the reputed
scene of the poem " Christ's Kirk on the Green,"
by James I. When about twenty years of age, he
entered upon a term of apprenticeship with
Macdonald and Leslie of the Aberdeen Granite
Works, and he used, not without some pride, to
point out part of the pedestal of the statue of the
Duke of Gordon in Castle Street, Aberdeen, as a
specimen of his apprentice workmanship. He was
in business on his own account for about a quarter
of a century, carrying out large and important
contracts, such as the erecting of bridges over the
Don at Strathdon and Kinaldie ; the New Grammar
School, and St. Mary's Church, Aberdeen ; the
mansion houses of Corse, Glenmuick, and Loch-
inver, and the Palace Buildings, Aberdeen. One
of his largest works was the formation of the
Denburn Valley Railway, and the Joint Station,
Aberdeen. He died on 28th January, 1877.

During Mr. Mitchell's proprietorship the
mansion house, which stands in a pleasantly

Parish Church. 20 ■

wooded and beautiful locality, was converted into a
hydropathic establishment. It has since been
much enlarged, and during the summer season its
accommodation is taxed to the utmost by tourists
and others in quest of a quiet holiday.

In 1880 the whole property was acquired by
Alexander Milne Ogston, whose estate of Ardoe
lies contiguous to it.

PARISH CHURCH.
{St. Mary, Virgin.)

In the thirteenth century the Knights Templars
resident in Maryculter were expected to attend the
services at the parish church of Peterculter on the
opposite side of the river Dee, but in consequence
of floods and ice they and their domestics were
frequently unable to get across. They, therefore,
built a church of their own on the south side, and
petitioned the Abbot of Kelso, as superior, to allow
them to use it as their " Parish Church." The
petition was carefully drawn up, and narrated the
many disadvantages under which the residenters on
the south side of the parish laboured, " to the peril
of their souls." In 1287 the license was granted,
and it was confirmed by subsequent charters.^
From this date, therefore, as is elsewhere mentioned,
the church, which was dedicated to St. Mary, was
known as the Parish Church of Maryculter.

I. Regis. Epis. Abel., II., pp. 2SS-93.

204 Maryculter.

In structure it was superior to many country
churches, having its windows and doors of neat
pointed arches. It was in the Gothic style of archi-
tecture, and measured about eighty-three feet in
length, by about twenty-eight feet in breadth, the
walls being three feet three inches thick. Although
now in ruins, the greater part of the south wall still
stands to an average height of eighteen inches, while
the east wall remains to a height of about four and a
half feet. One stone of the east jamb of the south
doorway is still in position ; the shattered piscina
is still in the south wall near the east end ; and
there is also a heap of moulded stones, including
jambs, arches, dripstones, &c.^ The piscina had a
delicately fluted bowl projecting from the face of
the wall, being carried by a small shaft with capital,
base moulding and circular plinth. It had alto-
gether been unusually refined and beautiful.- "A
part of the east end was divided from the main
body, and was called an aisle, being the burial
place of the family of Pitfodels to whom the land
once belonged.""^* The only gallery was in the

1. Tx&nszc\.\ons Aberdeen Ecclesi'ological Society, 1887, p. 27.

2. Ibid.

3. Archasologia Scotica, III., p. 16.

* There was, for upwards of a century, preserved at Maryculter
the effigies of a male and female beautifully carved in freestone, and
believed to represent Thomas Menzies of Pitfodels, and Marion Reid,
his wife. The figure of the former, represented in armour with a
sword by its side, had a helmet for a pillow ; while the latter was
dressed in long robes, with the head lying upon an embroidered
cushion. The hands of both were shown in the attitude of devotion,

Parish Church. 205

west end, the front of which was ornamented with
various carvings, and on it for long hung the
" joggis," When the building was deserted in the
end of last century, those who possessed seats were
allowed to remove them, and a few availed them-
selves of the privilege, one being for long preserved
at Tilbouries/ The holy water stone, which was
beautifully ornamented with Gothic figures, long
stood " in Petfoedels cloess " as a poultry drinking
trough,- but it has since disappeared.

The bell was famous for its fine rich tone.
Only two in the district were said to be equal to
it — one being the bell of Trinity Chapel, Aberdeen.
They were all three made together and brought
from Holland at the same time. The one at Mary-
culter was cracked and rendered useless through
being pulled down during the furious ringing by
certain fishermen who had gone to the graveyard
with a funeral.-^

About 1780 the building began to fall into
comparative decay, and strong complaints having
been lodged by the parishioners against its incon-
venient situation, the heritors resolved to build a
new church about a mile further to the south, and

1. Archreologia Scotica, III., p. 16.

2. Letter, Advocates' Librarj-, Aberdeen.

3. Archaeologia Scotica, III., p. 16.

and at the feet of each lay a dog. It is supposed that the effigies
were taken for safety to Marjxulter from the West Church, Aber-
deen, during its reparation in the middle of last centur}-, and they
were recently removed thither and placed on one of the window sills.

2o6 Maryculter.

near to the centre of the parish. Accordingly in
1787 a substantial new church, capable of accom-
modating 460 persons, was erected, and the old
church, which had done duty for five centuries, was
abandoned, and speedily became a ruin as already
described.

The pulpit of the present church, which was
presented in 1886 by Mrs. Gordon in memory of
her deceased husband. Captain A. H. Gordon of
Fyvie and Maryculter, is a chaste and handsome
piece of workmanship. There are five beautiful
memorial windows in the church, three of which
were presented in 1886 by Mrs. Kinloch in memory
of her deceased husband, Alexander John Kinloch
of Park and Altries. The other two were presented
in 1887 by the Kinloch family in memory of
Mrs. Kinloch herself.

The communion utensils include two very fine
silver cups, the work of Alexander Forbes, silver-
smith, Aberdeen, each of which bears the following
inscription : —

This cup wt. its fellow was kought wt. the money

MORTIFIED BY THE LaIRD OF KiNGCAUSY DURING Mr. NaPIER's
MINISTRY AT MARY CULTER,

173I.

MINISTERS.

1574. Alexander Robertson, Reader,^ at an
annual salary of ^20 scots. At this time Strachan

I. Collections Aberdeen and Banff, p. 226.

Parish Church. 207

and Nigg, along with Maryculter, were served by
the same minister. ^

1585. John Milne, Vicar. On 27th August, 1602,
he was " inquirit if he would accept the ministry of
Maryculter in terms of last Provincial Assembly,"
and he declared on 29th June, 1604, that " he is not
presently resolved." Being again demanded by
the Moderator of the Presbytery on 28th August,
1609, " if he fand himself inabill to accept of the
ministry at the said kirk? Answerit he could
not find himself meet for it," and, therefore, he was
ordained to " give place to ane qualified man," and
desired to " demit the stipend, and leave for
planting of that kirk. Answerit quhen the
minister is provided of ane living he suld do all
things be advyce of the Presbyterie."-
16 — . Andrew Milne, Minister. He married
Marjory Menzies, who, on the death of her father,
David Menzies, succeeded to the lands of Kirktown
of Banchory-Devenick. The Milnes, however, sold
these lands, in 161 8, to Alexander Garden of
Banchory, at the price of Three thousand merks,
but subject to a wadset of Two thousand merks
upon Mains of Banchory held by Gilbert Club,
burgess of Aberdeen.'^

16 — . Alexander Leask, Minister, admitted before
21st October, 165 1. On 19th March, 1679, he was
rebuked by the Synod for having entered into a

1. Jervise's Epitaphs, I., p. 30.

2. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 505.

3. Chartulary of Banchory Estate.

2o8 Maryculter.

" symoniacall paction " with Mr. John Lumsden iii
order that the latter might be presented to the
Church of Maryculter.^ He died before June, 1675.
1675. James Garden translated from New Machar,
and inducted in the summer of this year. In the
spring of the following year he was translated to
Balmerino, He was the son of Alex. Garden,
Minister of Forgue, and was a graduate of the
University of Aberdeen. -

1678. John Lumsden was presented to the charge,
but his trials for ordination were interrupted in
consequence of the " symoniacall paction " before
mentioned. His license to preach was withdrawn,
but on 22nd April, 1679, on acknowledging his
fault, he had it restored to him.'*

1679. George White. Translated from the second
charge of Ayr, he was admitted in the autumn of
this year. He was deposed in December, 17 18, for
being concerned in the late rebellion, but afterwards
intruded upon Newhills. He died in 1724.'*

1 7 19. William Abercrombie, son of Baillie Robert
Abercrombie of Aberdeen, was licensed by the
Aberdeen Presbytery, and ordained at Maryculter,
28th May, 1 7 19. From that date to 27th Sep-
tember following he had to preach in the churchyard
or schoolhouse, through Mr. White, the late incum-
bent, intruding into the church. He was translated

1. Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 505, and Presbytery Records.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4 Presbytery Records and Scott's Fasti, VI., p. 506.

Parish Church. 209

to Skene on 15th October, 1721, and died there on
6th June, 1746.^

1722. Archibald Napier, who had for the previous
two years been Minister of Bourtie, was presented
to Maryculter by the patron. Sir Alexander Cumin
of Culter, Bart, on 7th April, 1722, and inducted
28th November following. While engaged in his
ministerial visitations he died suddenly at the farm
of S wellhead, on 4th November, 1761, aged 74
years. -

1763. John Glennie. A native of the parish, he
had been Minister of Drumoak for the previous
thirteen years, and was admitted 3rd June of this
year. He married Jean, daughter of Arthur
Mitchell, Minister of Skene, by whom he had issue
eight sons and two daughters. Of the sons, John
became Minister of Dunnottar, and George was
elected Collegiate Minister of the West Church,
Aberdeen, and Professor of Moral Philosophy in
Marischal College. Mr. Glennie was a D.D. of the
University and King's College, Aberdeen, and died
14th December, 1801, aged 81 ?r years,' His tomb-
stone bears that he was " a virtuous, learned, and
eloquent man, endowed with rare piety from his
earliest years," and that "he discharged all the
duties of the pastoral office with the greatest credit
to himself, and advantage to his people." For
many years he kept an academy, which was

1. Presbytery and Session Records, &c.

2. IHd.

P

2IO Maryailter.

attended by from twenty to twenty-six young
gentlemen, some from the West Indies and America,
and others from England.

1802. William Paul. Licensed by the Presbytery
of Fordoun, 12th August, 1795, presented to Mary-
culter by the patron, Robert William Duff of
Fetteresso, in May, 1802, and ordained 12th
August following. Having been appointed Pro-
fessor of Natural Philosophy in King's College,
Aberdeen, he demitted his charge at Maryculter on
17th October, 181 1, and died 3rd March, 1834.^
1 81 2. John Bower. Son of John Bower, teacher
Longacre, Aberdeen, licensed by the Presbytery of
Aberdeen, on 9th May, 18 10, presented to Mary-
culter in January, 181 2, and ordained on 7th May
thereafter. He died, i8th December, 1866, in his
eighty-first year. " He was altogether a man to
love — gentle, kindly, guileless in his nature, who
strove to do his duty faithfully and zealously" . .-
1867. Charles Nairn Barker Melville. Ordained,
15th August, 1867. He died on 25th December,
1875.^

1876. George Duncan. Licensed by the Presbytery
of Aberdeen. Ordained ist May, 1876. Through
his exertions the church has been much im-
proved, an organ introduced, and a commodious
hall built at the north end.

1. Presbytery and Session Records.

2. Separate Register of Presbytery, &c.

3. Ibid.

Session Records. 2 1 1

SESSION RECORDS.

The Session Registers of Maryculter, so far as in
the custody of the Session Clerk, extend to five
volumes, and commence in the year 17 19. The
entries refer chiefly to cases of discipline, and the
management of funds under the control of the
Session. No parish on lower Deeside, however,
can prove to have relieved so many beggars, of
whom it was nothing unusual for eighteen and
twenty to be in waiting at the close of the sermon.
In 1 72 1 "the Minister intimated his intention to
begin two sermons, and the Elders were exhorted
to be at all pains for dealing with the people to
stay the second sermon." The Elders would seem
to have received special attention, for they were
not only required to be regular and circumspect in
their conducting of family worship in their own
homes, but in i 726 " they were recommended to
behave decently in serving the tables at the com-
munion." On I ith December, 1727, "Elizabeth
Smith, being found guilty of scolding and behaving
in an indecent manner, was rebuked, and ordered
to bridle her unruly tongue in the fear of God as
becometh a christian." A turbulent and somewhat
lawless spirit seems to have possessed certain of
the parishioners, as evidenced by the entry of
5th May, 1734. "James Jack today appeared before
the pulpit and was severely rebuked for his breach
of Sabbath by beating a young man and throwing

212 Maryculter.

him into a mill dam, and that during the time of
divine service." The sacred character of the church
and its service did not always act as a deterrent,
for, in 1739, "Alexander Lyon appeared before the
pulpit, and was rebuked for having made a great
disturbance in church during the singing, by pulling
and dragging a man out of his seat." The dread
of infection had alarmed the parishioners to such
an extent that the Session had to interpose. On
23rd April, 1797, "rumours having been current that
a family was infected with a disease known as the
' Sivans,' the Session had them medically examined,
and the Minister read from the pulpit the Doctors'
certificate that they were in perfect health."

MARYCULTER CLUB.

In May, 1830, a Club, limited to a membership of
twenty-one, was established under the title of " The
Mill of Maryculter Friendly Society." It numbered
among its members many gentlemen occupying
high social position in Aberdeen and the neigh-
bouring district.

The custom of the Club was to meet and dine
together at least once every year, and although
special apartments were reserved for the use of the
members at the Mill Inn of Maryculter, they were
by no means confined to that place — Perth, Alford,
Kintore, Pitcaple, Inverurie, Cove, Kincardine

Maryculter Chib. 2 1

O'Neil, Monymusk, Greenwich, and other places
having been honoured with a visit.

The objects and transactions of the Club are
interesting as giving us a glimpse of the customs
and habits of half a century ago. They are a
small detail in the great picture of a social life that
differed vastly from that of the time when the
Templars were the proprietors and rulers of Mary-
culter, and very markedly from that of our own
day.

Some account of the Club is here given in the
hope that those who are falling into the " sear and
yellow leaf" will like to hear something of " the
good old days when they were boys," and that the
younger generation will not consider it un-
interesting to compare the times and habits of their
fathers and grandfathers with their own.

Although it may be possible to doubt whether
our social customs and amusements have changed
for the better, there can be no question as to the
fact that they have changed in a very striking
degree.

In looking at the multifarious ways in which
our forefathers sought to relieve the monotony of
life, and the channels by which their superfluous
animal spirits found escape, it is easy enough to
find much to blame, and to make us congratulate
ourselves that we are not as they were. When it
is seen that gentlemen of position and high social
respectability enjoyed themselves in the fashion
described in the following extracts, we may be

214 Maryadter.

inclined to shake the head or point the finger of
scorn, but there are some very evident facts that
should mitigate the severity of our sentence.
Strict moralists condemn without mercy the
alleged devotion of our near ancestors to the cup
that cheers and often inebriates. No reasonable
man will defend or condone excess in either eating
or drinking, but — and regard is specially had to
what follows — we must not always credit to the
full extent the stories of these drinking bouts, even
when told by those taking part in them. It was
unfortunately held to be no disgrace to overstep
the bounds of sobriety — in fact it is a sad truth
that to get drunk was considered the mark of a
gentleman. Consequently to say of persons that
they had drunk to the stage of intoxication was
almost a form of compliment, and was often paid
with as little ground as are compliments of a more
commendable kind. Besides, drink did not work
much harm to these men, for many reasons. They
did not live at the same high speed as we do,
their brain was not kept abnormally active, their
heart and other organs were not subjected to in-
cessant and heavy pressure, and these circumstances
placed them in a far better position than their
worried and hurried descendants for escape from the
injurious effects of alcoholic stimulation. Again,
they drank when the business of the day was over,
and when they had heartily partaken of food. The
cup passed that digestion might be improved and
good-fellowship promoted. Both morally and

Maryculter Club. 2 1 5

physically these ancient convivialists are not to be
mentioned in the same breath with their con-
temptible successors — the modern " nippers."

Is it said that there was much frivolity and no
little roughness and vulgarity in these social con-
ventions? What is vulgar in one age may not be so
in another ; each period must be judged in the
light of its own circumstances. As to the frivolity,
it is easy to point to far more frivolous amusements
that are in favour with the same class now. After
all, it is not so pitiable, as at first sight seems, that
people of intelligence, and standing in business and
the professions, should have found the rollicking
cantrips alluded to in the following pages pleasant
means of driving away the shadows of life and of
lightening the burdens of duty, for they were also
intended to, and did, promote much geniality and
brotherliness, so that, while our modern manners
and social habits may be free from some of the
moral dangers of the bygone generation, we have
also lost much of their kindly social instincts, and
their strong feeling of brotherhood. Life then was
not one long uncompromising battle for individual
interests, each man ready to push his brother to the
wall that he himself might pass to the goal of his
own advancement in wealth or station. Let us not
despise or overblame our jovial forefathers ; they
were in many respects more noble men than we
are, and were often more mindful of the much
forgotten truth that life's truest pleasures arc
increased by being shared. If charity covers a

2 1 6 Maryculter.

multitude of sins, the social failings of our pro-
genitors will be covered by their brotherly feeling,
their genial sympathy, and their warm hearts that
made them not forget that : —

" Affliction's sons are brothers in distress ;
A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss ! "

The Minute Book of the Club was in the
custody of the late Colonel Jopp, who obligingly
allowed the following extracts to be made from it.
The Minutes, by a rule of the Club, were written
by each member in succession, which accounts for
their variety of style. They give a fair idea of the
rollicking joviality of its merry members, most of
whom bore a Club title. The subjoined list will
enable readers to identify the persons spoken of
under high-sounding and often grotesque desig-
nations.

William Allardyce, Wine Merchant, " First
Honorary Butler and Grand Purveyor."

James Black, Merchant, " Lord Willowbank,"
" The Lord-Chief-Justice, Lord-Justice-Gen-
eral, and Lord-Justice-Clerk."

James Kilgour of Bethelnie, " Heritor of that
Ilk."

Robert Henderson, of H.M, Customs, Aberdeen,
afterwards at Portsmouth.

Charles Hacket, Wine Merchant, Aberdeen.
1 . Alexander Gordon, Advocate, Mains of Culter
" Lord High Commissary."

Marycidter Chcb. 217

John Angus, Advocate, Town Clerk, " Grand
Secretary, and Keeper of the Club's Re-
cords."

Robert Shand, Advocate, " Grand Chaplain,
Poet- Laureate, and Knight of Kaw-Wa in
the Colony of New Zealand."

Patrick Kilgourof Woodside, "Earl of St. John's
Wood in the County of Middlesex."

William Skinner, Advocate, " H.M's Advocate,
Public Prosecutor, and Attorney-General."

James Jopp, M.D., Surgeon of H.M. 36th Regi-
ment of Foot, stationed in 1847 at Corfu,
then " Grand Mediciner of that, and the
Club's other Ionian Islands."

Robert Jopp, Seggat, " Farmer and Rider to the
Club."

Archibald Simpson, Architect and Surveyor,
" Grand Master Mason."

A. Dingwall, Jr.

Alexander Gibbon of Johnston, " Marquis of
Johnston Lodge."

Arthur Thomson, Banker, " Principal Consul to
the Club, and Lord High Admiral of the
Fleet."

George Glennie Anderson, formerly of Old
Aberdeen, afterwards of the City of London.

Robert Moir, Wine Merchant, " Second Honor-
ary Butler and Grand Purveyor, and Prin-
cipal Angler to the Club."

Robert Abercrombie, Rothnie.

George Silver of Netherley, and Balnagubs.

2 1 8 Maryailter.

George Forbes of Springhill, afterwards of Auld

Reekie.
Lewis Crombie of Kirkhill, " Baron Nigg and

Viscount of Kirkhill."
John Mair Gerrard of Midstrath, " Baron Mid-

strath, Earl of Italy and Count of Vienna."
John Glennie, Kennerty, " Grand Miller and

Maltsman."

Andrew Shepherd, late of the H. E. I. C, H. S.
" Mr. Sergeant Shepherd."

Basil Fisher of Devanha and Sandilands, "Grand
Trumpeter and Bugler." [Title conferred
"in respect of his having played upon a
Bugle in a Gig all the way out from Aber-
deen to Kincardine O'Neil."]

Alexander Hadden of Persley, " Grand Master
Mason, Viscount Persley and Marquis of
Cruive."

Newell Burnett, Advocate, County Clerk, " the
Keeper of the Club's Register of the
Seasons."

William Jopp, Wine Merchant, " Third Honor-
ary Butler and Grand Purveyor, and the
Club's Plenipo at the Courts of Spain, Port-
ugal, and other wine growing countries."

John Blaikie, Advocate, Town Clerk of Kintore,
" Baron of Craigiebuckler, and Receiver-
General of the Bishop's Rents, Chaplain's
Dues, and other Ecclesiastical Revenues of
the Club."

Maryculter Club. 219

James Simpson, Advocate, "Grand Interpreter
and Linguist with all the fees and emolu-
ments that he can catch." [Title conferred
" through his showing an intimate knowledge
of the unknown tongues."]

Thomas Blaikie, " Moderator of the Club."
[Title conferred in respect of his being at
the time representative for the City at the
General Assembly.]

William Chambers Hunter, of Tillery, " Grand
Huntsman."

Thomas Todd, Maryculter House, " Grand
Limner to the Club." [Title conferred " in
respect of his showing some talent for por-
trait painting."]

Alexander Anderson, Advocate, " Lord Mor-
mond and Baron of Stocket Muirs."

John Bramwell, Banker, " Grand Cashier," after-
wards of Melbourne.

Thomas Anderson, Manager, Aberdeen Steam
Navigation Company, " Baron Weepers of
Mortcloth in the County of Gravesend, and
of Saint Paul's Churchyard in the City of
London." [Title conferred " through his
having attended a funeral of one of his
stewardesses in an attire of ultra lugubrious-
ness."]

William Partridge, Ardmurdo.

Robert Fletcher, Accountant.

220 Maryculter.

VI. Meeting held 20th November, 1834.
At Willowbank day and date aforesaid, and
within the Dining Room of James Black, Esquire,
of that Ilk, was held the first pro-re-nata meeting
of the Mill of Mary Culter Friendly Society, called
in virtue of a gilt circular from the Lord President,
" Willow-Bank," hi propria for the express purpose
of receiving the Humble Petition of John Gerrard,
Esq., commonly called " Midstrath," praying to be
admitted a member of the Society, a vacancy
having occurred by the translation of Robert
Henderson to the Town of Portsmouth in England.
After the members of the Society had dined and
the Ladies had retired, John, the Macer in waiting,
received from the chair positive orders to keep the
door shut and not allow any person or persons, on
any pretext whatever, dead or alive, to enter within
the precincts of the Court. A Court of Admission
was then formed as follows. Presiding Grand Judge
— The Lord Willowbank. Admission Lords — Lords
Moir, Forbes, and Crombie, Allardyce " Grand
Purveyor," and Thomson " Lord Admiral of the
Club," the gentlemen of the Jury being the remanent
members present. The Court was then fenced,
according to law, and the Petitioner having taken
his place at the bar, the Lord Willowbank, from the
bench in a very grand and appalling address opened
the business by stating that he had received a
petition from John Gerrard of Midstrath, praying
to be admitted a member of the Mill of Mary
Culter Friendly Society, in such style and manner

Maryculter Club. 221

as the right worthy members of that happy frater-
nity might think fitting and proper.

On the petition being read viva voce the
Petitioner was desired, and required, to retire in
the custody of John, the Macer in waiting, until
the Jury had considered the application. The
Petitioner retired accordingly, and the Jury having
been graciously pleased to entertain the application,
the Petitioner was desired to make his appearance
at the Bar of the Court in the dress and robes of a
" Lord of the Mill of Mary Culter Session Justiciary
and Friendly Society," whereupon John, the Macer
in waiting, having sounded the bugle the door
opened, and with a most profound salaam an-
nounced " The Petitioner Lord Probationer
approacheth." — [Here the effect was grand.]

The Probationer, in the full costume of the
Order of a Lord of the Mill of Mary Culter Friendly
Society and in the custody of John the Macer in
waiting, was seen in the distance approaching
slowly in a most dignified and puissant manner,
and having entered the Court under a heavy flourish
of trumpets, the Lord Willowbank addressed him
under the highly astounding title of "Lord
Midstrath," Judicial Member of the Mill of Mary
Culter Friendly Society, to which distinguished
honour, he had now the pleasure of informing him,
he had been raised and elevated. The Lord
Willowbank then requested Lord Midstrath to take
his seat upon the bench, and sincerely hoped that
during the time that he and his learned and august

222 Maryculter.

brother " Midstrath " might sit thereon together,
they would always endeavour to dispense justice
and equity, with the same urbanity, humanity, and
decorum, which had hitherto most distinctly marked
the proceedings of this Court and Society. He
had now sat on that bench for many years as
Supreme Judge, and he would certainly say this^
which was simply that the Pannels, in general,
were the nicest people in the world he had met
with for a long time, and it was a comfort and
satisfaction to him to think that they were always
most remarkably pleased — often indeed delighted —
with the sentence passed upon them. He —
" Willowbank " — was fully aware that owing to the
rapidity of justice in some countries punishment did
precede the crime, yet he had never taken advant-
age of it in this, nor did he ever intend to do so —
No — he spurned the shabby action.

After his Lordship had delivered this address,
which was given in his own peculiar style, he
asked Lord Midstrath whether he had brought any
Certificates of Character or Diplomas — as these
were indispensably necessary, before acceptance of
the Seals of Office. The Lord Midstrath looked
grave. He had brought no Certificates.

But my Lord Willowbank said, " Perhaps there
may be some person in this house with whom Your
Lordship is acquainted who can speak to your
character, and I desire that John the Macer may
pull the bell." Here John the Macer pulled the
bell — and who should appear but the Lord

Maryculter Club.

Midstrath's own faithful Nigger, Massa Nicholas,
who being up to " de ting or two in de foreign
countree" had taken the precaution of bringing
along with him a most ample Certificate of " Massa
Gerrar's " good character and accomplishments,
which he instantly verified in presence, and having
counted his beads, and bolted a glass and a half of
" Elias Gibb's " Rum, he delivered the Certificate
into the hands of Lord VVillowbank, and retired
from the Court. And this certificate, for the benefit
of the absent members, and the credit of the Black
Man, was ordered to be engrossed by the Secretary
in the Minutes of this Meeting verbatim, and the
genuine signature of the faithful nigger to be ad-
hibited to the same. Here follows the certificate
thus : —

Certificate of

" The Count Nicaolas de Costa Rica

commonly called

Gerrard's Black Man."

I will certify dat my own Massa, Massa Gerar,
son of Maama Gerar, is de real good Massa Gerar wal
I serve for many year in de hot countree where de
smoke de pipee verre muchee, and drink de sangaree
verree — and I tink dat my own Massa make good
jodge, and ould too for he no floggee, no, no — he
only drinkee — he only sleepee — and he smokee
verree muchee — but den him head workee — and

him speakee

Nicolas . .

224 Mar)>ailter.

The foregoing certificate was considered by the
Court and Jury to be uncommonly satisfactory —
and the Lord Midstrath having been then, and not
till then, presented with the Seals of Office — and
walked round the mahogany three different times —
while each member of the Court placed his hands
upon his head — and thereafter having turned
himself eleven times round on his left foot, as they
did in the olden time and as is the imperturbable
usage of this Society sitting on admission (all
which his Lordship performed in the most dignified
style) his Lordship was declared by the Lord
Willowbank in a most loud and stentorian tone of
voice, to have been, and to be, duly elected,
admitted, and installed, a Member and a Lord of
the Mill of Mary Culter Friendly Society.

A tremendous bumper was then filled to the
health of the youngest Member of the Society and
drank with all the honours accompanied by the
harmony. For all which his Lordship, in an ap-
propriate speech, returned his sincere thanks. P.S.
— Here followed the Society's Anthem of " Linky
Twine " by Shand. This ended the election and in-
stalment of Lord Midstrath, one of the most striking
ceremonies ever witnessed in this or any other
Society upon the face of the Earth. And there
being no other cases before the Court the meeting
re-resolved itself into a regular Pro-re-nata Friendly
and spent the evening in that happy manner which
ever has, and, it is trusted ever will, characterize

Maryculter Club. 225

all its proceedings at home or abroad, at sea or
ashore.

Signed by all present.

VII. Meeting of the Club.

At a Pro-re-nata held in the office of Mr. Crombie,
3rd March, 1835, it was unanimously resolved
that the Club should extend its undoubted patron-
age to the Theatre now opened in the City, under
the auspices of the Corbit Ryder, — and — Tom
Ryder (Corbit's Son) being in attendance, was
admitted with the usual ceremonies into the
presence of the Club. After due discussion, con-
sideration, and deliberation, the following Dramas
viz. " Past ten o'clock on a rainy night," " The
Illustrious Stranger," or " Buried Alive," and
" Dominique the Deserter " or " the Gentleman in
Black," — were selected by the Club and directed to
be performed upon Tuesday, the 17th March
current. Tom Ryder was instructed accordingly.
One of the Bills of the Club's night is inserted in
the Minute Book in memoriain. The members of
the Club in their uniform of Black Coats, White
Vests, and Black Stocks, mustered strong, and the
house was, as well it might under such dis-
tinguished patronage — a Bumper. Certified the
1 8th March, 1835.

226 Maryculter.

At a general meeting of the Club held within
the Royal Hotel the Second day of June
1835.

. . . The Secretary produced a letter from
Mr. Arthur Thomson of this date regretting his
inability to attend the Meeting ; and requesting
that Mr. John Glennie, Farmer at Kennerty and
Miller at the Mill thereof, a Candidate for ad-
niission, might be proposed as a member of the
Club, and Mr. Glennie's nomination having been
seconded and no other member proposed, the
ballot was regularly put and taken thereon, and,
the ballot having been examined and reported
upon by the President, the said John Glennie was
found to have been unanimously elected, enrolled,
and admitted a Member of the Mill of Mary Culter
Friendly Society, accordingly, with all powers and
privileges, customs, dues and casualties, gratifica-
tions, observances and immunities, belonging or that
may or can pertain and belong to the Members of
said distinguished Society conjunctly or severally —
to bruik and enjoy the same as fully and freely as
the other members have hitherto, in time past, or
shall hereafter in time to come, bruik, possess and
enjoy the same in any manner of way, and that
without mental reservation or equivocation what-
ever, according to justice, and as the said John
Glennie shall answer, he carrying himself ever as
becometh. And the Secretary was instructed to

Maryculter Club. 227

transmit to Mr. Glenn ie an extract of this his ad-
mission on payment of the ordinary fees.

The same day, considering that Mr. Crombie,
one of the members, had presented the Club with a
very handsome book, elegantly bound, and having
a steel clasp-lock, embossed with silver, in which
the minutes and procedure of the Society are now
engrossed, the meeting do unanimously vote the
best thanks of the Club to Mr. Crombie for his
donation, and instruct the Secretary to intimate
this their vote of thanks to Mr. Crombie
accordingly.

The same day, the meeting fixed Saturday the
27th of June current, for the annual meeting and
dinner, to be holden within the Society's apart-
ments at the Mill as hitherto, and they direct due
intimation to be made by the Secretary to the
members accordingly. The meeting at same time
expressed their confident hope that previous to
the annual dinner the President and Croupier would
hold a solemn conference with the honorary Butler
and Grand Purveyor of the Club, as hath hitherto
been the invariable and most laudable practice on
such occasions.

VII. Annual meeting of the Club held on Satur-
day, the 2nd day of July, 1836.

The Club breakfasted with Mr. Gordon at
Culter House — viands excellent — welcome hearty.
The Club then daundered and dined under a

228 Maryailter.

splendid marquee placed upon the lawn in front of
the Society's apartments at the Mill. James Black,
Esquire, " The Lord Willowbank," presided as
Chairman in his usual distinguished style in the
unavoidable absence and at the special request of
Alexander Gibbon, Esquire, Johnston, Preses. The
Club voted their best thanks to Mr. Crombie, one
of their members, to whom the marquee belonged,
for granting the Club the use of the same, on the
occasion and in consideration thereof, and for other
weighty reasons them thereunto moving un-
animously elected, and do hereby elect and raise him
to the Dignity of an Earl of the Club by the style
and title of " Earl Kirkhill, Baron Nigg." George
Silver, Esq., of Balnagubs and Netherley, Convener
of the County of Kincardine, was by acclamation
admitted an honorary member of the Club, and he
being pressed gave his oath de fideli administratioiie
officii. Thereafter the Club unanimously elected
Mr. Crombie Preses, and Mr. Gerrard Vice-Preses
of the Club for the ensuing year, with full power
to the Preses to call and to hold Pro-re-nata
meetings whenever and wheresoever he may con-
sider necessary and proper for the honour and
dignity and grandeur of the Club.

1837.

The Lord Willowbank having examined the
minutes of last meeting finds with extreme indig-
nation that there are various errata et einissiones, in

Maryculter Club. 229

so far as the Secretary has omitted to notice the
presence of the representative of the Lord of the
Manor — also the Convener of the County of
Kincardine — and to record the names of the un-
fortunate individuals who were fined at last meeting,
and however painful it must be to his Lordship's
feelings to allude to these unpardonable omissions
by the worthy Secretary, " tha7i ivJiom Jie knows no
one better entitled to his high courtesy" still, however,
his Lordship feels that he would be wanting in
duty to his country and to that distinguished Club
to which he has the honour to belong, were he for a
moment to wink at these omissions and allow the
Guilty Secretary to pass unpunished. Never shall
it be said that his Lordship " Shamed Abraham in
that way," his motto has always been " Non com-
pondere vulnus" which means — Dein me if I don't
fine him. And as his Lordship finds that the
Secretary has not entered these particulars in his
minutes, and has entirely omitted the trial and
execution of that unfortunate man Chalmers, who
was sentenced at last meeting for the heinous
offence of appearing at "our apartments at the
Mill " in a Square Tailed Tartan Coat, with inex-
pressibles to match, and a shocking bad hat, and for
which piece of unmitigated effrontery he was con-
demned to pay " Six bottles of Moir's best
Champagne " — being the last sentence of the law.
His Lordship is therefore compelled to pass a
small sentence upon the Secretary " instanter," in
order that the minutes of this Club may be more

230 Maryculter.

regularly kept in all time coming — and that
sentence is — That that " Good Worthy Man " John
Angus, Esquire, the Secretary, shall produce at the
next Pro-re-nata " One bottle of the best Cham-
pagne," as a small atonement for past offences, and
if his Lordship should again look into this book
and find that the Secretary has not recorded the
names of these unfortunate individuals on the
annexed page, His Lordship will make a shocking
example of the Secretary by inflicting upon him the
Last Sentence of the Law.

" Willowbank," Lord President.

At a general meeting of the Club held in No. 34
Castle Street, Aberdeen, the 22nd May,
1837, The Lord Willowbank in the Chair.

After the most consummate deliberation the
meeting resolved that the Annual General Meeting
should be held this year at Kintore upon Saturday
the loth of June next, and directed the necessary
summonses to be issued and directions given
accordingly. Translation of Robert Abercrombie,
Esq., to the dignity of an Honorary Member.
Thereafter the Club for many weighty and puissant
reasons them thereunto moving and more especially
touching his increasing years and infirmities, he
having declared while in his sober senses " that a
man can eat and drink only a certain quantity in
his lifetime, and that he had arrived at that period
when he thought he was about done," unanimously

Maiyculter Club. 231

elected, admitted and enrolled the said Robert
Abercrombie as an honorary member of the Mary
Culter Club for all the days and years of his mortal
Hfe ...

1838.

The Ninth annual meeting was held in Mrs.
Gordon's Inn at Kincardine O'Neil upon
Saturday, the 30th day of June, 1838. Wm.
Skinner, President, in the Chair. Archibald
Simpson, Vice-President, Croupier.

This was a first rate grand dress convivial
meeting. The dinner furnished by Mrs. Gordon,
Innkeeper, did the utmost credit to her known
talents and hospitality, and the Club directed the
Secretary to record the same accordingly.

Mrs. Gordon was called before the Court and
duly addressed and admonished from the Bench.
The members enjoyed themselves to a late hour,
and the Wine Cup circulated freely. After the
Society's Anthem had been suqg by the Chaplain,
the Club elected Lord Midstrath to be President,
and Geo. Silver, Yr., of Netherley, to be Vice-
President of the Club for the ensuing year in the
usual form, with all powers, privileges, and im-
munities pertaining to their offices respectively.
In the edge of the evening Alexander Gordon and
Robert Shand, who, since last Annual Festival had
purchased the lands of Gateside in the Parish of

232 Maryculter.

Newhills and County of Aberdeen, were tried by
the Lord Willowbank and a special Jury — their
crime was for the desertion of the Diet before the
President had left the Chair — a circumstance
altogether unprecedented and unknown in the
Annals of ^the Club. And having been called by
their respective names three times at the door to
appear in Court, they failed to do so. Whereupon
after having been duly put to the Horn by the
Grand Trumpeter, in the undoubted exercise of his
Office, the Lord Justice Willowbank instantly
delivered upon them in their absence the last
sentence of the Law, and ordained the said lands
of Gateside of which they are portioners as afore-
said, together with the Mosses, Muirs, parts, pen-
dicles, and pertinents of the same, Haill Fishings — as
well Salt Water as Fresh Water, and other Acces-
sories thereto belonging, to have been and to be
Forfeit and Escheat to the Club For Ever.

The Club having again met at Supper, Com-
peared the said Alexander Gordon and Robert
Shand and conjunctly and severally Drank Three
Tumblers of Punch in presence of the Club. In
respect thereof, and the above having been the first
time they were ever known to desert any diet of
principal eating or drinking whatsoever or where-
soever, My Lord Willowbank Ex propria niotu
et sua dignitate Recalled the foregoing sentence,
Reponed and Restored the said Alexander Gordon
and Robert Shand, Panels, against the same in
toto, and Ordained the forfeited Lands and Estate

Marycidter Club. 233

of Gateside with the Fishings and pertinents to be
Re-conveyed to them in Integrum.

Thomas Blaikie, Moderator, was then tried for
neglecting to produce the usual certificates of
Character, and having most contumaciously pleaded
that, in respect of his being one of the Baillies of
the Burgh of Aberdeen, he was exempt from
the jurisdiction of this puissant Club, My Lord
Willowbank found the Libel proven, and grossly
aggravated by the contumacious Plea of the
Panel, Sentenced him accordingly, and Dismissed
and Assoilzied him Simpliciter from the Bar.

Grand Pro-re-nata Meeting of the Club Held in
Merry England Upon Saturday, the i ith day
of May, 1839,

It having happened by a wonderful combination
of circumstances that a numerous Body of the
constituent Members of the Club were at the time
congregated in the Metropolis of England in their
own and the Nation's business. My Lord Mid-
strath, President of the Club, in exercise of the
powers vested in him by virtue of his Office, called a
General Pro-re-nata meeting to be held within the
Ship Tavern, Greenwich, this Day, and directed the
Secretary to issue Summonses accordingly.

There were present on this Illustrious occasion
John Mair Gerrard, " Lord Midstrath," President of
the Club, Alexander Gordon, Vice-President

i234 Mary cult er.

{pro tent.), Thomas Blaikie, Moderator, Lewis
Crombie, " Lord Kirkhill, and Baron Nigg," Alex-
ander Hadden, " Lord Persley," Wm. Allardyce,
" Grand Honorary Butler and Grand Purveyor,"
Robert Shand, " Chaplain," Archibald Simpson,
Architect, and John Angus, Secretary. And the
President having, in exercise of the Club's known
hospitality in a foreign land, authorized each of the
Members to invite a friend, there were also present
William James Tayler (Rothiemay), Member of the
English Bar; David Morice, Johnston, Solicitor,
London; James Davidson (Tillychetly), Solicitor,
London ; Alexander Ross, (Arnage and Bourtie),
Wine Merchant, London; Charles Lester of Dept-
ford, Leslie Clark, Dean of Guild of the City of Aber-
deen ; Alexander Calder,Umquhile of Calder & Coy.,
Wine Merchants in Aberdeen, now of Upper
Woburn Place, London ; Thomas Newman
Farquhar of Jackston, Solicitor in London, and
Alexander Anderson, Advocate in Aberdeen,
Guests of the Club.

The Dinner was sumptuous, the Wines superb,
and the whole arrangements of the entertainment
did the utmost credit to the Lord Kirkhill, who, at
the request of the President and in respect of being
able to speak the Queen's English (he having been
born at Highgate, and duly sworn at the House of
the Horns according to use and wont in that
celebrated village), kindly superintended the sarhe.

The same happy and joyous feelings which
have universally pervaded the Club in its Native

Maryculter Club. 235

Country shone forth with refulgent lustre over this
Memorable and never-to-be-forgotten occasion, and
the White Bait superadded to the usual pro-
vocatives of enjoyment caused the whole Club to
Continue their Sittings till they — as the Immortal
William Shakespeare says — " heard the chimes at
midnight."

The Secretary produced Letters Patent from
My Lord Willowbank in Scotland, countersigned
by Her Majesty's Advocate and duly endorsed,
Ordaining My Lord Midstrath and the other
remanent Lords of Justiciary then assembled to put
upon his trial Mr. Chaplain Shand in respect that
a person bearing the name of Shand had been
cited to appear before the Lords of Justiciary of
Aberdeen for the Abstraction and Secretion of Six
White Chamber Vases.

And the Libel having been laid upon the table
and a Jury empanelled, the Chaplain, without being
requested to plead, was convicted in terms of Law,
and ordained to have been and to be instantly con-
veyed on board the convict ship " Dreadnought "
lying in the River Thames, opposite to the Coast,
to be there detained and immured during the whole
period of his natural life, and to sing the Society's
Anthem for the benefit of his fellow prisoners
morning and evening during the foresaid period
without revocation ; against which sentence the
Chaplain protested and appealed to My Lord
Willowbank, at the next Annual General Court to
be held in Scotland. The Company returned to

236 Maryculter.

the City of London in Two Omnibi, the said Thomas
Newman Farquhar performing, for the Edification
of all concerned, the Arduous Duty of Cad.

On Monday, 9th March, 1840, the Club patron-
ized the Benefit given to the Misses Hyland at the
Aberdeen Theatre. The Aberdeen Herald reported
the event thus, " The Misses Hyland took their
benefit on Monday evening, under the patronage
of the President and members of the Mary Culter
Club ; it was one of the fullest houses seen in
Aberdeen for a long time. That portion of the
public who were not present may form some idea
of the ' bumper,' when we tell them that a part of
the pit had to be railed off, for the reception of such
of the audience as could not be accommodated in
the boxes.

Besides this there were many who had to find
standing-places behind the scenes. This could not
have been very agreeable to them or the actors,
but how could it be avoided when they could not
lose the pleasure even at an inconvenience of
witnessing the performances ? In the course of the
evening these delightful vocalists, in reference to
the patronage bestowed on them, introduced a
complimentary song to the air of 'The Braes of
Balquhither,' which was received with thunders of
applause. The song was as follows : —

Maryculter Cbib. 237

Will ye go, lassie, go

To the Braes o' Maryculter,
When the Club hold their court

At the Mill o' Maryculter,
When the Judge and the Jury

All seated together.
Spend the lang Summer day

At the Mill o' Maryculter.

We will go, we will go

To the Braes o' Maryculter,
We should like to be tried

By the Judge o' Maryculter —
As we think he would say
' Come forward together,'
You are sentenced to be married

At the Kirk o' Maryculter.

Then we'll go, then we'il go

To the Braes o' Maryculter,
When the Court is all sitting

At the Mill o' Maryculter.
And we'il dance and we'il sing

Till we catch a smart suitor,
Then success to the Club

At the Mill o' Maryculter."

XII. Annual General Meeting held at Pitcaple
Inn, 24th July, 1841, being the anniversary of
the battle of Harlaw. Thomas Blaikie, Esq.,
Lord Provost of Aberdeen, " Moderator of
the Club," President in the Chair.
^"^V^Q, the persons hereunto subscribing, members

238 Maryculter.

and guests of the Mary Culter Club do solemnly
and sincerely declare on Soul and conscience, and
in terms of the late Statute abolishing Oaths, that
(the present time being late in the Evening) we are
in the act of enjoying ourselves in the usual manner

of the Club We further testify that,

after all who arrived in time had breakfasted in the
hospitable mansion of Pitcaple Castle, we were led
by Thomas Blaikie, Esq., present Lord Provost of
Aberdeen, to the field where his worthy and gallant
predecessor, Sir Robert Davidson, fought and fell at
the head of the brave citizens of Aberdeen. Not-
withstanding the party were well armed, the
country as far as the eye could reach appeared
quite tranquil.

" Thus far our arms with victory are crowned,
For, the' we have not fought yet have we found
No enemy to fight withal."

. . . Various Delinquents were tried, sentenced,
and again restored into the bosom of the Club.

The Guests of the Club on this happy occasion
were Hugh Lumsden, Esq. of Pitcaple, the Lord of
the Manor ; James Gordon, Esq. of Manar, William
Leslie, Esq. of Wartle, B. C. Urquhart, Esq. of
Meldrum and Byth, Alexander Jopp, Esq. Advo-
cate, Aberdeen, John Mackenzie, Esq. of Glack,
Captain J, E. Dalrymple of Westhall, Alexander
Forbes, Esq. of Blackford, James Mackenzie, Jr.,
Esq., Glack House, William Lumsden, Esq. of

Maryculter Cbih. 239

Balmedie, and G. Urquhart, Yr., Esq., Meldrum
and Byth.

1. N.B. Previous to Dining the Chaplain asked

a Blessing, and at the regulation hour he
sang the Society's Anthem.

2. N.B. The Chaplain upon this occasion sang
delightfully, but his articulation was rather
thick.

XV. Annual General Meeting held on 6th July,
1844, at the Old Original Chambers at the
Mill Inn of Maryculter

At six o'clock exactly the members sat down
to a neat and substantial dinner provided by Mrs.
Watson the hostess in her usual mellifluous style.

The dinner and wines were of most excellent
quality and called for no particular Condemnatory
Remarks, except that the soda water was unusually
brisk, owing perhaps to the warmth of the Season
and Room.

The ornamental style in which the Club's Cham-
bers have been in some measure re-edified called
forth the approbation of the President to such a
degree that it was surmised he himself must have
had a hand in the pie.

The meeting found that they had so much
business on hand that they adjourned the greater
part of it, including the eating and drinking, till next
Meeting

240 Maryculter.

XVI. Anniversary held at Charleston of A.]?oyne
on 1 2th July, 1845.

Which day the company arrived at the
appointed place jointly and severally in respective
portions. Those who arrived too soon spent their
spare time as they pleased without any restriction
or interference on the part of the others.

At six o'clock sharp, being the hour previously
fixed, all hopes were given up of any more arrivals,
and a very excellent dinner smoked on the board
for a short time, and then gradually disappeared
under the gallant and persevering attacks of the
party.

In consideration of the qualities of this said
dinner. We, the Subscribers, do confidently recom-
mend Mr. Birse, the Landlord of the Inn, to the
patronage of a deserving and hungry public.

We are bound further to mention with approb-
ation the Piper of the village, Dougal Glass, who,
being a strong winded person, did manfully by
himself sustain the full chorus of the Orchestra.

" He play'd so sweet and so complete
That out cam'

various little boys and girls supposed to be the
offspring of the Villagers, as also the Chief Ofiicer
of the Burgh, viz.: — the Postmaster came to his
own door and listened in rapture to the inspired
musician. At the request of the Club Mr. Robert
Moir, one of its members, has enriched its library

Marycidter Club. 241

with portraits of these two distinguished in-
dividuals ....

XVII. Anniversary held on the 25th July, 1846,
at The Cove — not of Cork — but in the Parish
of Nigg.

The Company in the first place visited, inspected,
and approved of the Works of the Aberdeen Rail-
way in this quarter, in so far as completed, and
recommended a steady progress therein.

They then looked out upon the sea and seed a
Steamer coming from the Southward, which, after
much consideration, was supposed to be the
" Bonnie Dundee " laden with passengers and goods
from Leith to Aberdeen.

They then dined &c., in the course of which a
vote of thanks was given in solemn silence to the
Purveyors for their attention to the duties of their
important office.

It was recommended to the Reverend the
Chaplain to provide himself against next meeting
with a new Grace Before Meat, his present one,
from frequent repetition, being already sufficiently
impressed upon the memory of his hearers.

XVIII. Anniversary held on 17th July, 1847, at
Pitcaple Inn.
The day being propitious the Club, as previously
determined, fixed upon their dinner here this day

342 Maryculter.

and did eat the same cum imillo gusto, having by-
dint of Driving, Walking, Fishing, Daundering, and
other means procured for each individual a good
and sufficient appetite, which, however, they soon
spoiled ....

His Reverence the Chaplain reported that in
terms of the recommendation made this time
twelve months, he had applied himself to the com-
position of a New Grace, but had not yet had time
to get it by heart, Whereupon he was remitted to
his studies ....

XXI. Anniversary held on 27th July, 1850, in the
Fair City of Perth.

In the forenoon a lot of the Members and
others visited and inspected the Palace of Scone
and Kinfauns Castle. The Noble Owners of these
places being both absent on unavoidable business,
the Deputation expressed to their Servants their
entire approbation of the Houses and Grounds,
And came back to Perth.

The Dinner was held in the Royal George Inn
or Hostelry — kept by Luckie Davidson, whom the
Members take leave to recommend to the notice of
a discerning public.

The Members took care of themselves and paid
every suitable attention to their guests.

In the course of the evening the Club, in the
due exercise of their patronage, Presented and

Maryculter Club. 243

Inducted Patrick Stuart Fraser, a Town Councillor
of Edinburgh and one of the Guests, to the Church
and Parish of Dron, Leaving it to himself to
ascertain if the cure be vacant, and if not to take
the proper steps for making a vacancy ....

In the course of the evening it was resolved
that such of the party as chose should visit the
Hill of Kinnoul on the ensuing day, and such
others as chose should go and dine at Dunkeld — it
being understood that the latter party should be
entitled to take with them the Club's unconsumed
Wine, upon Inventory and payment.

Any other Body was allowed to do anything he
chose.

Perth is a City situated on the River Tay, in
which salmon is occasionally to be found. It is the
Capital of Perthshire, and is supposed to have been
for a short time the Capital of Scotland. But after
an anxious enquiry it was found that the Court is
not there at present.

The Roads from Aberdeen to Perth were found
in pretty good order, being entirely Railway.

It does not appear to the Club that any further
particulars need be here engrossed, the whole pro-
ceedings having passed over in the usual har-
monious and convivious manner.
God Save the Queen.

XXIV. Anniversary held at Melvin's Hotel,
Stonehaven, upon Saturday, 9th July, 1853.
. . . . The Club desire to record their

244 Maryailter.

approbation of the Aberdeen Railway Company's
arrangement for taking them into Aberdeen in the
evening before breaking the Sabbath by means of a
Luggage Train, which arrived at the Station
decidedly before 1 2 o'clock, p.m

XXV. Annual Festival held 8th July, 1854, at
the " Forbes Arms," Bridge of Alford.

. . . . At an early hour the Mace-bearer
planted the Standard of the Club on the Summit of
the Banqueting Hall, over which it floated proudly,
fanned by the genial breeze of a lovely summer
day, and enhancing the beauty of the scenery by
its resplendent colours ; while the inhabitants of
the surrounding country, thus made aware of the
presence of such distinguished visitors, felt proud
and happy at the honour conferred upon them and
the district. Many of the Members and Guests
having arrived the previous evening amused them-
selves with fishing in the meandering Don, flowing
in crystal loveliness beneath the turreted Walls of
Castle Forbes. The weather was propitious — the
river in fine condition — the fish in a humour to be
caught — and calm serenity and enjoyment filled,
the bosoms of the Sportsmen.

The Banquet was served with the customary
splendour, wit and wine vied for the mastery in
sparkling vivacity, and eloquence lent its aid to
the " feast of reason and the flow of soul," nor was
the songster mute, the sweet words of the Ballad,

Maryculter Club. 245

wedded to music as sweet, varied the enjoyment of
the feast, and the Spirit, rapt and enchanted by the
overwhelming sense of enjoyment, was for the time
unconscious of grosser external influences . . .

XXVI. Annual Festival held at Pitcaple, 7th
July, 1855.

The Circling Seasons again brought radiant
summer, and the Mary Culter Club held high
revelry within the Spacious and Antique Hall of
the Hostelry at Pitcaple. Glorious was the weather,
numerous the attendance of the members, many and
distinguished the Guests, all of whom, on the swift
wings of the Rail, beguiled the time in lofty con-
verse on the progress of the war, and the gallant
deeds now being enacted in the Crimea.

The Towers of Pitcaple Castle rose above
the landscape in austere grandeur. Benachie

" That lofty cliff, which lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale and mid-way leaves the storm."

had put on his most smiling aspect, and all nature
was attuned in sweet harmony with the auspicious
occasion. In due time the Macer of the Club, in
his gorgeous Robes, and bearing his Wand of
Office, ushered the Company to the Banquet which
was speedily done that justice to, to which its high
merits so well entitled it. Copious libations of
generous wine heightened the hilarity and added
lustre to the wit, and although in various matters
opinions were hazarded which met with no con-

246 Maryculter.

currence, and arguments advanced which proved
nothing, the reign of Good-fellowship and enjoy-
ment was unruffled by the slightest discordant or
jarring influence, and after a delightful evening, a
Special Train conveyed those to the town v/ho
were thither bound.

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi.

XXVIII. Annual Festival held 24th July, 1857.
The Club assembled at the Kintore Arms,
Inverurie, and there regaled themselves with all
that was good. In the midst of the feast, a
thunderstorm broke over the place, and it was
thought that a water spout must have burst. At
anyrate for a time there was as much spout-
ing without as within the house. The storm
drove some passers bye to take refuge within the
entrance of the Hotel — two of whom were heard
thus to converse, — " In Inverurie's ancient town
high revelry is held, say Stranger who the guests
and whence they come ? " " Lord, Sir, they be the
Chaps as calls themselves the Mary Culter Club, a
queerish lot, who wander here and there, and
though they have no funds as ever I have heard,
they live upon the best and laugh at care ; their
custom is to dine but once a year, and it is thought,
judging from what they eat and drink, that, like
the Camel, they a store can lay in to last till next
they meet ; when thus replete they to the Town
return, and each goes to his own house, who does
not go to someone else's . . . . "

Maryculter Club. 247

XXIX. Annual Festival held within the Hostelry
""at the Cove, on 9th August, 1858.

On
the which occasion
The Club daundered,
The Club dined.
The Club was happy.
The Club got merry,

and after that
The Club got home.

It only remains to be added that the 30th and
last meeting of the Club was held under the
presidency of Colonel Jopp at the Station Hotel,
Alford, on 9th August, 1859.

248 Population Statistics.

POPULATION STATISTICS.

PARISH OF DURRIS.

Year

1755

5)

1769

)>

1774

))

I79I

))

I 801

»

I8II

J>

I82I

J>

I83I

5>

I84I

»

I85I

))

I86I

)»

I87I

5>

I88I

»

I89I

889

Persons,

777

>>

750

»

651

>)

605

»)

724

>»

945

)>

1035

»

1 109

>»

962

>)

1 109

>»

102 1

»

1014

j>

918

»

Population Statistics. 249

Year 1755
1780
1790
1801
1811
1821
1831
1 841
1851
1861
1871
1881
1 891

PARISH OF DRUMOAK.

760

Persons

^l

>t

708

))

648

M

630

..

756

))

804

811

948

996

032

930

869

250 Population Statistics.

PARISH OF PETERCULTER.

Year

1755

1776

1793

1801

1811

1821

1831

1 841

1851

1861

1871

1881

1891

755

Persons-

1040

)>

1002

)>

871

»

lOIO

))

1096

»

1223

>>

1258

))

1351

))

1410

))

1668

))

1908

))

2052

))

Population Statistics. 251

eai

r 1755

M

1773

I)

1783

»>

1792

..

1801

»

1811

)>

1821

11

1831

11

1841

11

1851

11

1861

11

1871

11

1881

>)

1891

PARISH OF MARYCULTER.

746 Persons.

766

711

719

710

700

860

960

924
1055
105s
mo
1072
1024

252 Index of Names.

INDEX OF NAMES.

Abercromby (Abercrombie), Jane, w. of Admiral Duff, 122.

— Mary Grace, w. of Capt. W. Cosmo Gordon, 178,

— Sir Robert, Bart, of Forglen, &c., 178.

— Baillie Robert, Aberdeen, 208.

— ■ William, minister, Maryculter, 208, 209.
Aberdeen, Earl of, 54.

— George, ist Earl of, 121.

— Presbytery, 25, 57, 210.

— Synod, 57.
Agricola, 37.

Aird, James, minister, Peterculter, 144.
Albany, Regent of Scotland, 45.
Alexander II., 115.

— III., I.

Allan, John, minister, Peterculter, 144.
Anderson, David, of Finzead, 86.

— Janet, w. of Rev. John Gregory, 86.
Angus, Archibald, Earl of, 117.
Arbroath, Abbot of, 6, 67.

Arbuthnot & McCombie, Culter Paper Mills, 130.
Arthur, Euphemia, Maryculter, 165.

Ballenden, Andrew, minister, 86.
Baird, Henry Robert, of Durris, 16.

— William, of Elie, 16,
Bannerman, Sir Alex., of Kirkhill, 201.

— Lady Mary, of Heathcot, 201.

Barclay, Thomas, minister, Peterculter, 143, 144.
Beaton, — of Balfour, 189.

— Cardinal, 190, 194.
Binning, Thomas, Lord, 163.
Binny, Alex., St. Andrews, 15.

— Maria, w. of A. W. Mactier of Durris, 15.
Bimie, Janet, w. of Rev. John Irvine, 139.

— Robert, minister, Lanark, 139.
Bisset (Beyseth), Walter, Maryculter, 152.
Black, Patrick, minister, Peterculter, 142.
Blaikie, Christian, w. of Rev. Adam Corbet, 89.

— Sir Thomas, Aberdeen, 89.
Boece, Hector, 83.

Boswell, Claude, Lord Balmuto, 182.

— John Irvine, of Kingcausie, 182, 183.

Index of Names.

•^^5

Bower, John, minister, Maryculter, 2io.

— John, teacher, Aberdeenj 210.
Bowls, Johnne, 52.

Brand, James, of Auchhmies, 199.
Brechin, Bishop of, 9.
Bretagne, Anne of, 189.
Buchan, Earl of, 2, 51, 116.
Bumard, Alex, de, of Crathes, 43, 66.

— Robert de, 65.
Burnett Family, 43, 65, 66, 69.

— Alexander, of Crathes, 67.

— Alexander, of Crathes, 67.

— Sir Alexander, of Crathes, 68.

^ Alexander, of Countesswells, 127.

— Dr. Duncan, 69.

— Elizabeth, w. of Rev. Alex. Shank, 87.

— Bishop Gilbert, 69.

— Professor Gilbert, 69.

— James, of Countesswells, 128.

— James, of Craigmyle, 67.

— Sir James H., of Crathes, 37,68.

— John, 67.

— John, 67.

— John, of Countesswells, 129.

— John, of Leys, 67.

— Majory, w. of James Sand ilands, 127.

— Robert, of Crathes, 66.

— Robert, of Crathes, 67.

— Robert, Lord Crimond, 67.

— Sir Robert, Bart., 68.

— Sir Robert, Bart., 68.

— Sir Robert, Bart., 68.

— Robert, of Crimond, 69.

— Sir Thomas, of Leys, 67.

— Sir Thomas, of Leys, 68.

— Sir Thomas, of Leys, M.P., 68.

— Dr. Thomas, 69.

— Sir Thomas, 69.

— Thomas, of Park, 74.
Burnetts, of Monboddo, 67.
Burns, Robert, "Poet," 122.

Caozow Family, 7.

Carey, Mary, w. of Sir Alex. Fraser, 13.
Carrick, Bruce, Earl of, 44.
Chalmers, Alex. , of Murtle, 185.

— Majory, w. of Gilbert Menzies, 18
Charles L, 54, 67, 68.

— IL, 12, 14, 127.

254 Index of Names.

Christie, James, of Durie, 183.

— Margaret, w. of John Irvine Boswell, 183.
Clement V., 155, 156.

Club, Gilbert, burgess, Aberdeen, 207.
Collie, — farmer, Peterculter, 39, 40.

— Gilbert, elder, Durris, 27.

— John, Barresgate, Drum, 38.

Collison (Collisoune, Collinson) Family, 162, 196.

— Baillie, 185.

— Charles, of Auchlunies, 199.

— • David, burgess, Aberdeen, 196.

— Gilbert, of Auchlunies, 197.

— Issobell, 198.

— Jean, w. of Henry Irvine of Kingcausie, 180.

— John, burgess, Aberdeen, 196.

— John, 1st of Auchlunies, 196.

— John, 2nd of Auchlunies, 196, 197.

— John, 4th of Auchlunies, 188, 197, 198.

— Thomas, 199.
Congal, St. 25.

Copland, Robert, minister, Durris, 19, 32.
Corbet, Adam, minister, Drumoak, 88, 89.

— William, of Bieldside, 88, 129.
Crawford, Margaret, w. of Provost Alex. Reid, 186.
Cruickshank, Wm., Newhall, Auchlunies, 188.
Crychtoune, William, vicar, Durris, 29.

Culter Mills Paper Company (Limited), 130, 131.

Cumberland, Albinia E., w. of Alex. Gordon of Auchlunies, 200.

Cumin (Cuming, Cumyn) Family, i, 2, 116.

— Alexander, 116.

— Alexander, of Culter, 117.

— Sir Alexander, of Culter, 1 18.

— Sir Alexander, of Culter, Bart., 119.

— Sir Alexander, of Culter, 131.

— Alexander, advocate, 119.

— Archibald, Fiar of Culter, 117.

— James, ot Culter, 117.

— Jardine, of Inverallochy, 116.

— Philip, 116.

— Sir William, of Culter, 116.

— William, of Inverallochy, 117.
Curie, Elizabeth, 191, 192, 193.

— Gilbert, 192.

— Hippolytus, superior, Scot's College, Douai, 193.

— John, 193.

Dalgarnock, John de, 4.
David I., 65.
— XL, 4, 5, 73-

Index of Names. 255

Davidson, James, 30, 31.
Dempster, John, of Auchterless, 185.
Dochty, Elizabeth, w. of Sir Alex. Fraser, 13.
Doiglas, Alex., Lochtoun, Durris, 27.
Donald, Lord of the Isles, 8, 45.
Donaldson, Sir Wm., vicar, Drumoak, 82.
Douglas (Douglass), Ann of Tilwhilly, 23.

— Earl of, 8.

— Eleanor, w. of Sir William Fraser of Durris, 8.

— James, Second Earl, 7.

— James, Earl, 1 16.

— Lady Marion, w. of Al. Irvine of Drum, 51.

— John, of Tilwhilly, 23.

— Margaret, w. of Sir Thomas Burnett, Bart, of Leys, 68.

— Sir Robert, of Glenbervie, 68.

— Sir William, 3.
Duff Family, 137.

— Helen, w. of Admiral Duff, 122.

— Helen, 136.

— Margaret, w. of Patrick Duff of Culter, 121, 122, 136.

— Patrick, of Culter, 73, 120, 121, 129, 131.

— Patrick, of Craigston, 121.

— Admiral Robert, of Fetteresso, &c., 121, 122.

— Robert William, of Fetteresso and Culter, 123, 210.

— Robert William, of Fetteresso and Culter, 123.

— Robert William, of Fetteresso and Culter, M.P., 123.

— William, minister, Peterculter, 142.

— William, of Braco, 121.
Duguid, Peter, of Auchlunies, 201.

— Peter, of Auchlunies, 201.
Duirs, James, minister, Durris, 32.
Dunbar, Archibald, elder, Durris, 27.
Dunbreck, Philip de, 5.

Duncan, George, minister, Maryculter, 210.
Duncanson, — 162.
Durris Kirk Session, 13, 24, 32, 33.
Durward, Alan, 115.

Edward I., 1, 2, 43, 116.

— IL, 156.

— Prince Charles, 195.

— Charles, blacksmith, Peterculter, 39, 42.
Erroll, Earl of, 9,

Estates, Committee of, 12, 56 .

Ewyn, Alex., Dean of Guild, Aberdeen, 198.

Farquharson, of Invery, 57.

— John, minister, 193.
Fichet, Agnes, w. of — Collison, 196.

256 Index of Names.

Fichet, Mathew, alderman, Aberdeen, 196.
Fife, James, Earl of, 123.
Fleming, John, grand master, Maryculter, 161.
Forbes, Sir Alex., of Tolquhon, 60.

— Alexander, silversmith, Aberdeen, 206.

— & Coy., India, 74.

— Andro, glasswright, Aberdeen, 52.

— Arthur, minister, Drumoak, 83.

— Duncan, stabler, Aberdeen, 52.

— George, Maryculter, 165.

— Hugh, of Schivas, 62.

— Jane, w. of Alex. Irvine of Drum, 62.

— Jean, w. of John Sandilands of Countesswells, 128.

— John, of Leslie, 182.

— Johnne, of Corsindae, 52.

— Johnne, in Mylnebowy, 52.

— Low & Co., Aberdeen, 74.

— Margaret, w. of Thos. Gordon of Kennerty, 126.

— Margaret, Peterculter, 133.

— Marjory, w. of Alexander Irvine of Drum, 60.

— Master of, 117.

— Meriorie, 198.

— Bishop Patrick, 118.

— Patrick, Mylnebowy, 52.

— Thomas, of Waterton, 128.

— Thomas, yr., of Sheddocksleys, 181.

— William, of Banchory, 182.

— William, schoolmaster, Peterculter, 132 — 135.

— William, Lord, 60.
Fordoun Presbytery, 25, 88, 210.
Fordyce, Provost George, Aberdeen, 31.

— Isabella, vv. of Rev, Robert Melvill, 31.
Fortescue, Archer Irvine, of Kingcausie, 184, 201.
Fraser (Fresale, Fraiser,) Family, of Durris, 26, 29.

— Sir Alex. Chamberlain, 2, 3.

— Sir Alex., of Philorth, 49.

— Alexander, Philorth, 49.

— Alexander, of Durris, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

— Alexander, S. of Do., 7, 8, 9.

— Alexander, of Durris, 9.

— Alexander, of Durris, 10.

— Sir Alexander, Eighth of Philorth, 10, 11.

— Sir Alexander, of Durris, 12.

— Andrew, of Muchal, 11.

— Anne, w. of Sir Alex. Fraser of Durris, 13.

— Charles, 13.

— George, minister, Durris, 29, 83.

— James, Durris, 27.

— James, minister, Drumoak, 38, 88, 89.

Index of Names. 25;

Fraser, James, of Ileathcot, 202.

— John, of Durris, 4, 6.

— Lord, II, 12, 13, 118.

— Sir Peter, of Durris, 13.

— Robert, Durris, 27.

— Thomas, of Durris, 27.

— Thomas, Petcowteis, 23, 27.

— Thomas, schoolmaster, Durris, 27, 28.

— Sir William, of Durris, 2, 3, 4, 5.

— Sir William, of Philorth, &c., 8, 9.

— William, of Durris, 9, 10.

— William, of Ouchterdurris, 10.
FuUerton, John, minister, Drumoak, 88.

— Katherine, w. of John Irvine of Drum, 61.

— Robert, of Dudwick, 61.

Galloway, Alexander, prebendary, Durris, 29.

— John, prebendary, Drumoak, 82.
Gammell, James, of Countesswells, 129.

— Rev. James Stewart, Countesswells, 129.
Garden (Gardin, Gardyn), Alex., of Banchory, 207.

— Alexander, minister, Forgue, 208.

— George, of Gardin, 126.

— James, minister, Maryculter, 208.
Garioch, Alexander, minister, Peterculter, 139.

— Andrew, minister, Peterculter, 139.

— John, of Heathcot, 201.

— Margaret, Heathcot, 202.
Gaw, John, Auchlunies, 188.
George II., 120.

— III., 122, 178.

— Chevalier St., 194.

— Second Marquis of Huntly, 56.
Gerard, Alex., reader, Drumoak, 83.
Giels, Janet, w. of James Gammell, 129.
Gillespie, Malcolm, excise officer, 42, 114, 115.
Glennie, George, minister, Aberdeen, 209.

— John, minister, Maryculter, 88, 209.

— John, minister, Dunnottar, 209.
Godfrey of St. Omer, 153.

Gordon Family, 11, 14.

— Alexander, Durris, 33.

— Alexander, of Auchlunies, 200, 201.

— Alexander, of Lismore, 67.

— A. H., of Maryculter and Fy\-ie, 178, 206.

— Bertie E. M., 200.

— Charles, priest, Aberdeen, 193.

— Duke of, 14, 17.

— Lady Henrietta, 13.

-^3<

hidex of Names.

Gordon, James, of Banchory, 199, 201.

— John, of Kennerty, 126.

— Katherine, w. of Alex. Burnett of Leys, 67.

— Lady Mary, w. of Alex. Irvine of Drum, 56.

— Sir Maurice Duff, of Fyvie and Maryculter, 178.

— R. L. H., 200.

— Thomas, of Kennerty, 125, 126.

— Thomas, of Premnay and Heathcot, 201.

— Hon. Wm., of Ellon, 177, 200.

— William, of Fyvie and Maryculter, 178.

— Capt. William Cosmo, Maryculter, 178.
Graham, John, minister, Drumoak, 83.

, — Thomas, master of the Mint, 15.
Gray, Meriorie, 198.
(jregory, James, professor, 86.

— James, saddler, Aberdeen, 86.

— John, minister, Drumoak, 86.
Guthrie, Robert, Drumoak, 38.

Hamilton, — ., of Bothwellhaugh, 117.

— Lady Elizabeth de, 7, 8, 9.

— James, 62.

— John, archbishop, St. Andrews, 190.

— Margaret, w. of A. F. Irvine of Drum, 62.
Harper, — schoolmaster, Durris, 31.

Harvey, Andrew, of Blairs, 186, 187, 188.

Hay, Jean, w. of John Collison of Auchlunies, 197.

— Thomas, of Kennerty, 125.

— Thomas, rector, Drumoak, 83.

— William De, Lord of Erroll, 9.
Hogg (Hog, Hoig), Andrew, 22.

— Andrew, in Boig, 23.

— Archibald, Balbrydie, 23.

— Archibald, minister, Durris, 29.

— George, of Shannaburn, 23, 24.

— James, Blairydrine, 23.

— James, minister, Skene, 23.

— James, teacher, Banchory-Devenick, 23.

— James, Knappach, 23.

— John, 22.

— Miniane or Monan, 22.

— Miniane or Monan, Jr., 23.

— Thomas, elder, Durris, 27.

— William, Knappach, 23.

— William, Woodend, 23.

Hoggs of Blairydrine, 10, 22, 23, 24, 29.
Honorius II., 153.
Huntly, Earl of, 48.

— George Second Marquis of, 56.

Index of Names . 259

Hutcheon, James, West India merchant, 74, 75.

Ingles, — Maryculter, 162.
Innes, Cosmo, 14, 163.

— John, of Leuchars, 14.

Irvine (Irwine, Irving, Irwing), Family, 36, 44, 108, 162.

— Miss, of Drum, 82.

— Alexander, of Beltie, 29.

— Alexander, of Crimond, 61.

— Alexander, Culter Mills, 130.

— Alexander, & Coy., Culter Mills, 130.

— Sir Alexander, of Drum, 44, 45, 46, 47.

— Sir Alexander, of Drum, 47, 48.

— Alexander, of Drum, 48, 49, 50.

— Alexander, of Drum, 50, 51.

— Alexander, of Drum, 51, 53.

— Sir Alexander, of Drum, 54, 55, 56, 57,

— Sir Alexander, of Drum, 56, 57, 58, 59.

— Alexander, of Drum, 59.

— Alexander, of Drum, 62.

— Alexander, of Forglen, 10.

— Alexander, of Kingcausie, 181.

— Alexander, of Murtle, 59, 60.

— Alexander Forbes, of Drum, 62.

— Alexander Forbes, of Drum, 62.

— Ann, w. of Lord Balmuto, 182.

— Henrietta, w. of Alex. Leslie of Pitcaple, 59.

— Henry, of Kingcausie, 180.

— James, minister, Durris, 29.

— James, of Kingcausie, 182.

— Jean, w. of Alex. Irvine of Murtle, 59.

— John, of Artamford, 61.

— John, of Drum, 61.

— John, of Kingcausie, 180, 181, 187.

— John, minister, Peterculter, 139.

— Margaret, w. of Gilbert Menzies of Pitfodels, 59.

— Mary, w. of Count Leslie, 59.

— Robert, of Moncoffer, 52.

— Robert, 11.

— Robert, of Drum, 46, 47.

— Robert. 56.

— William de, of Bonshaw, 43.

— William, of Drum, 43, 66, 73.

— William, of Drum, 81.
Irvines of Artamford, 59.

— of Cults, 59.

— of Murtle, 59.

— of Saphock, 61, 139.

26o Index of Names.

Jaffkay, Alexander, i8i.
James I., 7, 9, 47, 202.
~ n., 195-

— ni., 49, 125, 194.

— v., 50, 161, 185,

— VI., 51, 125.

Jerusalem, Knights of St. John of, 19, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161.

John of Bavaria, 45.

Johnston (Johnsone), George, prebendary, Drumoak, 82.

— Thomas, of Caskieben, 181.

Keith, Bishop, 162.

— Alexander, 135.

— Elizabeth, w. of Alex. Irvine of Drum, 44, 45.

— Lady Elizabeth, 51.

— George Skene, minister, Keith-hall, 135.

— Sir Gilbert, 22.

— Sir Robert, marischal of Scotland, 44, 45.

— Sir William, 22.
Keiths of Dunnottar, 36, 44, 45.

— of Inverugie and Cowie, 22.
Kelso, Abbot of, 203.
Kennedy, Jane, 191.

— John, minister, Peterculter, 136, 141, 142.

— Margaret, w. of David Stephen, Drumoak, 37.
Kinloch, Alexander John, of Park and Altries, 74, 75, iSo, 206.

— James, 74, 179, 180.

— Mrs., of Park and Altries, 206,
Kinninmond, Alex., bishop, Aberdeen, 76.
Knights Hospitallers, 157-165.

— Templars, 19, 152-157.
Kyd, John, vicar, Durris, 29.
Kyle, Right Rev. Bishop, 192.

Kynloch, Alex, de, prebendary, Drumoak, 82.

Leask, Alexander, minister, Maryculter, 207, 2c8.
Leith (Leyth), John, of Montgarrie, 126.
Leslie, Alexander, minister, Durris, 31, 32.

— Alexander, of Pitcaple, 59.

— Alexander, of Wardis, 196.

— Bessie, w. of John Collison, of Auchlunies, 197.

— Elizabeth, w. of John Collison of Auchlunies, 196.

— Forbes, of Rothienorman, 62.

— Patrick, Count, of Balquhain, 59.

— Sir Walter de, 6.

— William, of Wardis, 197.

Iviell, Andrew, treasurer, Aberdeen Cathedral, 125.
Lindsay (Lyndsay, Lyndesay), Alexander, 164, 177.

— Alexander, rector, Belhelvie, 125.

Index of Navies. 261

Lindsay, David, minister, Drumoak, 87.

— David, Jr., minister, Drumoak, 87.

— Janet, w. of John Gordon, 126.

— Jean, w. of Monan Hoe;g, Jr., 23,

— Sir Walter, 19, 176, 184.

— Walter, of Bewfort, 48.

Livingston (Livingstone), Alexander, of Countesswells, 12S.

— Dr., 16.

I^ckhart, Robert, vicar, Drumoak, 83.

Low, Mrs., 74.

Lumsden, Elizabeth, w. of John Burnett of Leys, 67.

— John, minister, Maryculter, 208.

Macdonald & Leslie, Aberdeen Granite Works, 202.
Mackie, Charles, minister, Drumoak, 89.
Maclean, Hector, Chief of Clan Maclean, 46.
MacNicol, — chaplain, Maryculter, 162.
Mactier, Alexander, of Durris, 15.

— Anthony, of Durris, 14, 15.
Makdowell, Sir Edward, chaplain, 49.
Maky, John, Durris, 19.

— William, Durris, 19.
Mar, Countess of, 8.

— Earl of, 45.
Marischal, Earl, 22, 55.

Mark, George, minister, Peierculter, 142.
Mary Queen of Scots, 117, 160, 162, 190-195.

— Saint, 152, 203.
Maryculter Club, 212-247.

— Kirk Session, 211, 212.
Mayot or Mazota, .Saint, 75, 76.
Mcpherson, Abbe, 194.

Meldrum, William, vicar, Peterculter, 138.

Melvill (Melville), Charles N. B., minister, Maryculter, 210.

— Francis, minister, Arbuthnott, 30.

— Francis, 31.

— John, 31- . .

- Robert, minister, Durris, 30, 31.
Menzies, of Durn 188.

— of Pitfodels, 177, 178.

— David, of Blairs, 188.

- David, of Kirktown of Banchory-Devenick, 207.

— Gilbert, of Pitfodels, 59.

— Gilbert, of Findon, 162, 184, 185, 186.

— Sir Gilbert, 160.

— Jean, w. of Thomas CoDison of Auchlunies, 199.

— John, of Pitfodels, 177, 179, 188, 189.

— Marjory, w. of Rev. Andrew Milne, Maryculter, 207.

— Nannys, w. of Alexander Irvine of Drum, 49.

262 Index of Names.

Menzies, Thomas, of Pitfodels, 185, 186, 204.

Middleton, John, Earl of, 194.

Milne, Andrew, minister, Maryculter, 207.

— Cruden & Coy., Aberdeen, 128.

— James, Durris, 33.

— John, vicar, Maryculter, 207.
Mitchell, Adam, of Heathcot, 202.

— Arthur, minister, Skene, 209.

— James, farmer, Kennethmont, 202.

— Jean, w. of Rev, John Glennie, Maryculter, 209.
Moigne, John, of Park, 73.

— Walter, of Park, 73.
Moir, William, of Park, 74.
Molay, De, grand master, 156.

Moncrieff, Jean, w. of Sir Thomas Burnett, Bart., 68.

— Sir John, 68.

Montrose, Marquis of, 12, 16, 56, 57.

Moore, Sir John, 200.

Moray, Sir Andrew, of Bothwell, 2, 3.

— Margaret, w. of William Fraser of Durris, 2.
Mordaunt, Charles, Earl of Peterborough, &c., 14.

— Henrietta, w. of Duke of Gordon, 14.
Mories, Wm., schoolmaster, Peterculter, 133.
Morrison (Morison), — ., artist, 194.

— George of Haddo, 122, 123.
Mortymer, Johnne, 52.

Muchal Family, 11.

Munro, General, 54, 55, 86, 118.

Myln, Alex., Caladrum, Durris, 27.

— Alex., Mains of Durris, 27.

Napier, Archibald, minister, Maryculter, 206, 209.
Nauchtie, Alexander, elder, Durris, 27.

Ogilvie, James, of Auchiries, 62.

— Mary, w. of Alex. Irvine of Drum, 62.

— Theophilus, of Auchlunies, 200, 201.
Ogston, A. M., of Ardoe and Heathcot, 203.

Paterson, Bishop, 193.

Paul, — ., schoolmaster, Drumoak, 78.

— William, minister, Maryculter, 210.
Payens, Hugh de, 153.

Penny, Andrew, of Park, 75.

— James, 75.
Peter, Saint, 107, 135.
Peterborough, Earl of, 14, 17.
Philip IV., 15s, 156.

— the Hermit, 157.

Index of Names. 263

Pirie, Messrs., of Stoneywood, 130.
Pitfodels Family, 49.
Polwart, — Maryculter, 162.

Ramsay, Adam, elder, Durris, 27.

— Sir Alex., of Balmain, 68.
Red Beard, Durris, 20, 21.

Reid, Dr. Alexander, Banchory-Ternan, 68.

— Provost Alexander, of Pitfodels, 185.

— Cuthbert, rector, Drumoak, 83.

— James, Maryculter, 179.

— John, minister, Durris, 25, 30.

— Marion, w. of Thomas Menzies of Pitfodels, 185, 186, 204.

— Robert, minister, Banchory-Ternan, 21.

— William, minister, Durris, 30.
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 122.

Ripon, Earl of, 200.
Robert the Bruce, 2, 43, 66.

— II., 4, 5, 73.

— III., 7, 47.

Robertson, Alexander, elder, Durris, 27.

— Alexander, reader, Peterculter, 137.

— Alexander, reader, Maryculter, 206.
Rose, Alexander, minister, Drumoak, 88.

— Isabel, w. of Rev. Alexander Rose, 88.
Ross, Alexander, tailor, Drumoak, 38-42.

— Gilbert, 84.

— Lady Johanna, 5, 7.

— Richard, minister, Drumoak, 84, 137.

— William, Earl of, 5.

Sandilands, James, of Cotton, 127.

— Sir James, 162, 177.

— John, of Countesswells, 127, 128.

— John, of Countesswells, 128.

— Patrick, of Cotton, 127.
Scott, Louisa, w. of R. W. Duff, 123.

— Sir Wm., Bart, of Ancrum, 123.
Scrimzeour, Sir John, of Dudhope, 54.

— Magdalen, w. of Sir Alex. Irvine, 54.

Scroggy (Scroggie), Alexander, minister, Drumoak, 77, 85.

— John, elder, Durris, 27.
Seton, Janet, w. of John Collison, 197.

— Janet, w. of Gilbert Collison, 197.

Shank (Shanks), Alexander, minister, Drumoak, 79, 80, 87.

— Alexander, minister, Arbuthnott, 87.

— Murdoch, 87.

— William, minister, Brechin, 79, 87.

— of Castlerig, 88.

264 Index of Names.

Sim, George Innes, minister, Drumoak, 89.

Simpson, Archibald, Architect, 81.

Skene, Margaret, w. of James Hogg of Elairydrine, 23.

— Robert, of Raemore, 23.

Smith, Bartholomew, Peterculter, 129, 130.

— Lewis, Peterculter, 130.

— Richard, Peterculter, 130.
Smyth, Steven, S, at Drum, 51.
Soletre, Alanus de, vicar, Peterculter, 137.
Somerset, Protector, 51.

Souper, Patrick, of Auchlunies, 199.
Spark, Robert, minister, Durris, 32. ,
Stephen, David, Easter Cairnie, 37.
Stirling, John, minister, Peterculter, 143.
Strachan Kirk Session, 13.

— William, minister, Durris, 32.
Swinton, Alexander, of Mersington, 119.
Syme, Alexander, drawing master. Dollar, 183.
Symmers, George, of Cults, 129.

Tailzour, George, Philorth, 49.

Tennent, James, of Lynhouse, 162, 163.

Thomson (Thompson), Alex., minister, Peterculter, 139, 140, 141.

— Francis, minister, Peterculter, 139.

— Isabel, w. of Alex. Irvine, 61.

— Robert, minister, Peterculter, 143.

— Thomas, of Faichfield, 61.

— William, minister, Peterculter, 142.
Torphichen, Lord, 177.

Udny, Alexander, of Udny, 121.

— Ann, w. of John Sandilands, 127, 128.

— John, of Udny, 121.

— John, 128.

— Lady Martha, 121

Vaus, Alexander, prebendary, Drumoak, 82.
Victoria, Queen, 190.

Wallace, William, reader, Peterculter, 138.

— William, minister, Peterculter, 138.
Watson, William, of Binghill, 108.

— Thomas, elder, Durris, 27.
Watt, Charles John, minister, Durris, 32.
Wauchope Family, 43, 66.

— Sir Adam, of Culter, 166.

— Allan, 115.

— Marjory, w. of Philip Cumin, 116.

— Robert, of Culter, 115.

Index of Names. 265

Wauchope, Robert de, 116.
Wedderburn, — ., Marycultcr, 162.

— Godfrey, Maryculter, 167-175.
Wells, Hugh, rector, Durris, 28, 29.
White, George, minister, Maryculter, 208.
Whitehall, Anna, w. of Sir Alex. Cumin, 119.

— Lancelot, 119.
William the Lion, 152, 154.

Williamson, Robert, writer, Edinburgh, 162, 163.
Winzet, Niniane, 190.

York, Cardinal Duke of, 195.

Young, James, of Durris, 15, 19.

Youngson, Alexander, minister, Durris, 29, 33, 34.

— William, minister, Durris, 30.
Yule, Sir John, rector, Peterculler, 137.

266

Index of Places.

INDEX OF PLACES.

Aberdeen (Abirdene, Aberden)
5, lo, 13, 23, 24, 30, 37, 42,

47, 51. 52, 53' 54- 55, 59, 68,
69, 71, 74, 84, 86, 89, no,
112, 126, 127, 128, 129, 165,

178, 180, 182, 185, 186, 196,
197, 199, 200, 201, 202, 206,
208, 209, 210.

Aberdeenshire, 54.

Aberdour, 6.

Aboyne Church, 152, 163.

Altrie, Pitfour, 180.

Altries, Maryculter, 75, 178,

179, 180, 206.
Ancrum, 123.

Andersonian University, Glas-
gow, 15, 16.

Andrews, Saint, 190.

Anguston, Peterculter, 125.

Aquhorties, Inverurie, 189.

Arbeadie (Arbady), 117.

Arbroath Convent, 66.

Arbuthnott, 30, 87.

Ardboik, 115.

Ardlethen, 83.

Ardoe (Ardach), 161, 203.

Argyllshire, 62.

Artamford, 54, 61.

Ashentilly (EssentuUy), 176,
179.

Auchindoir, 54.

Auchinshogill, 6.

Auchiries, 62.

Auchlee, Hill of, 183.

Auchlunies, 162, 180, 188, 195-
201.

Auchronie, Skene, 46.

Auchterless, 88, 185.

Ayr, 208.

Bakebare, Drumoak, 36.
Balantradoch, 163.
Halbrydie, Durris, 23.
Balcharn, Durris, 7.

Baldarrach (Badarach), 73.

Balfuthachy, 7.

Balgowny, Brig of, 49.

Balmain, 68.

Balmerino, 208.

Balmuto, Fife, 182, 183-

Balquhain, 59.

Banchory Estate, 126, 199, 201,

207.
Banchory-Devenick, 23, 107,

182, 207.
Banchory-Ternan, 21, 23, 30,

66, 68,
Banffshire, 54, 144.
Barns, 139.
Barresgate, Drum, 38.
Basle, 69.
Beinshill, Muir of, Peterculter,

119-
Belhelvie, 125.
Beltie Estate, 48.
Berwick (Bervvic), 43, 48.
Bieldside, Peterculter, 89, 128,

129.
Binghill, 108.
Birkenbog, 178.
Birse, 75.
Black Friar Croft, Aberdeen,

52-
Blairs, Maryculter, 37, 162,

177, 184-195.
Blairydrine, Durris, 10, 22, 23,

24.
Bloody Stripe, Peterculter, 1 10.
Bogfon, Maryculter, 179.
Boig, 23.
Bonshaw, 43.
Bothwellhaugh, 117.
Bourtie, 201, 209.
Braco, 121.
Braemar, 112.
Brechin, 79, 87.

— Battle, 48.

— Kirk, 10.

Index of Places.

267

Brutherfield, Peterculter, 126,

127, 129, 133.
Buchan, 154, 180.
Burnside, Maryculter, 179.

Cairxhulg, II.

Cairnie, Easter, 37.

Caimmonearn Hill, Durris, 18.

Cairnshea Hill, Durris, 24.

Campvere, 67.

Candyglerach (Canaglcrach, Kil-

henach Clerach), 66, 80.
Cardeny, 66.
Carron, 122.
Caskieben, 181.
Castlerig, 87.
Chili, 200.

Cockley, Maryculter, 179.
Collangy, 50.
Collie — see Cowie.
CoUison's Aisle, Aberdeen, 196,

197-
Contlaw, Nether, Peterculter,

124.
Contlaw Over, Peterculter, 124.
Corse, 118.
Corsindae, 52.
Cotton, 127.
Coule, 50.

Countesswells, 108, 126-129.
Cowie (Collie), 3, 8, 22.

— Thanedom, 2, 4.
Crabstane. 68, 182.
Cragtoune, 50.
Craigbeg, Durris, 20.
Craiglug, Durris, 20.
Craigmyle, 67.
Craigston, 121.
Crathes, 43, 141.

— Castle, 69, 70.

— Moss, ^J.
Crimond, 61, 62, 69.
Cromar, 54.
Crjnoch, 179.
CuUen, 199.
Culter, 129, 163.

— Burn, no, 129.

— Estate, 43, 62, 73, Si,
115-124.

Culter Fort, 124.

— Mains, 124.

— Paper Works, 129, 131.

— Railway Station, 123.
Cults, 107, 128, 129.
Currie, 143.

Cushnie, 67, 139.
Cyprus, 158.

Dalmaik Farm, Drumoak, 36.
Dee, River, 19, 29, 35, 44, 66,

107, 109, 124, 126, 152, 161,

177, 178, 184, 203.
Deeside, 61.

Denmill, Peterculter, 124.
Dennie, 163.
Don, Bridge of, 49.

— River, 181.

Donald's Garth, Maryculter,

179.
Douai, 192, 193.
Drum, 10, 82, 116, 180, 181.

— Castle, 46, 55, 60, 63,
64, 65, 78.

Drum Estate, 43-65.

— Forest, 43, 66, 73, 80.

— Place of, 49.

— Property, Peterculter,
125, 126.

Drumfrennie (Drumquhirny),

117.
Drumoak (Dalmaik, Dalmayok),

106, 107, 139, 140.
Drumoak Church, 41, 75-82,

209.
Drumoak Churchyard, 38, 39,

41.
Drumtochty, 129.
Drum's Aisle, Aberdeen, 54, 59.

— Stone, Auchronie, 47.
Dudhope, 54.

Dudwick, 61.
Dundee, 54.
Dunnottar, 209.
Dupplin, Battle of, 3.
Durham, 4.
Durie, 183.
Durris, 1-35.

— Bridge, i.

268

Index of Places.

Durris Castle, ii, i6.

— Castle Hill, 4, 17.

— Church, 25-28.

— Dell, 17.

— Forest, i.

— House, 19.

— Manse, 31.

East-Side, Maryculter, 179.
]'-astertown, Maryculter, 200.
Kcht, 83.

Eddiestone, Peterculter, 108.
Edinburgh, 56, 57, 119, 148,
162, 188.

— Castle, 3, 57.

— University, 14.
Elgin, 14.

— Academy, 144.
Elie, Fifeshire, x6.
Ellon Estate, 200.
Enzie, 32.

lissiniuly (Essyntuly, Essentuly,

EssentuUy), 2.
Essintuly, Easter, 177.

— Wester, 4, 6.
I'sslie, South, Uurris, 20.
Estland (Eastland), Maryculter,

185.

Faichkield, 61.
Earnell Manse, 30.
Eedderate, 54.
Fettercairn, 61.

— Manse, 31.
Fetteresso, 122, 123, 163.
Findon, 162, 184.
Finzead, 86.

Ford, Water, Maryculter, 176,

177.
Fordoun, 129.
Foresterhill, 197.
Forfarshire, 54, 83.
Forglen, 6, 10, 50, 54, 178.
Forgue, 208.
Fortrie I'2state, 50.
l^'otheringay, 190.
F'overan, 142.

France, 3, 45. 61, 155, 194-
Fraserburgh, 6, 56.

Fyvie, 178, 206.

Gallowhurn, Drumoak, 36.
GaVdin (Gardyn, Gairn), 126,

127, 129.
Garioch, 45.
Garrol, Durris, 20.
Gateside, Maryculter, 179.
Gibraltar, 121.
Glasgow, 15, 190, 195.
Glassaugh, 122, 123.
Glasterberry, 124.
Glenbervie, 68.
Glenfarquhar, 67.
Glenlivet, 89.

Gordon Castle, Fochabers, 14.
Gormack Burn, Peterculter, 1 10.
Grammar School, Aberdeen, 52,

,53-

Greenock, 129.
Greenwich, 122.
Guild Brethren's Hospital,
Aberdeen, 54.

Haddo, 122, 123.
Halidon Hill, Battle of, 3.
Hamanchaca, South America,

75-
Harlaw, Battle of, 8, 46.
Hawkhillock, Park, 36.
Heathcot, Maryculter, 196, 200,

201-203.
Heathcot Hydropathic, 203.
Hern (Heme), 117.
Hillbrae, Maryculter, 179
Hillside, 124.
Hilltoun, 108.

— of Kennertie, 138.
Hogg's School, Banchory-Deve-

nick, 24.
Holland, 205.
Ilollmill, Peterculter, 124.

Inch Farm, 177.
Inchmachan, 163.
Inchmarlo (Inchmerlach), 117.
Insch, 139.

Inverallochy, 116, 117,
Inverbervie, 3.

hidex of Places.

269

Inverness, 148.
Invernorth, 11.
Inverugie, 22.
Inverurie, 46, 189, 201.
Invery, 57.

Jaffa, 154.
Jedburgh, 117, 148,
Jerusalem, 153, 154, 157, 158,

167.
Judea, 153.

Keiss Castle, 56.
Keilh-hall, 135.
Keith's Moor, 36, 44.

— Pot, 44.

— Stone, 44.
Kelly, Arbirlot, 54.

— ■ Renfrewshire, 15, 16.
Kelso, 66, 164.
Kemnay, 83.

Kennernie (Kynarny), 83.
Kennerty, Peterculter, 125, 147,
Kennethmont, 202.
Kilbartha, 163.
Kilmalcolm, 139.
Kilsyth, 57.

Kincardine O'Neil, 180.
Kincardineshire, 68, 159.
Kingcausie (Kingcausy), 162,

180-184, 196, 201, 206.
Kinghorn, 87, 88.
King's College, Aberdeen, 68,

83, 85, 88, 89, 123, 127, 139,

141, 144, 201, 209, 210.
Kinmuck, 54.
Kinnell, Manse, 30.
Kirkhill, Dyce, 201.
Kirkhill Parish, 142.
Kirktown, Banchory Devenick,

207.
Kirktown, Maryculter, 165.
Knappach, 2^.
Kynclonyes, 7.
Kynedward, 116.

Lanark, 139.

Lasts (Lachts), Peterculter, 124.

Lerwick, 143.

Leuchar, Peterculter, 125.

— Burn, Peterculter, no.
Leuchars, near Elgin, 14.
Leys Estate, 65-73, 127.
Liege, France, 45.

Linn, Culter, no, 125.

— North, III.
Lismore, 67.
Liston, 163.
Liverpool, 15.
Loncardy, 6.
London, 47, 120, 179.

— University, 15.
Lonmay, 54.
Lynhouse, 162.

Madras, 14.

Maiks St. Well, Drumoak,

75-
Malta, 159, 160.
Manchester, 15.
Marischal College, Aberdeen,

53, 69, 209.
Maryculter, 24, 75, 107, 152,

163.
Maryculter Church, 187, 203-

210.
Maryculter Estate, 176, 179,

206.
Maryculter House, 160, 177,

178.
Maryculter Mill, 185.
Melphis, 157.
Mersington, 119.
Midmar (Mydmar), 83.
Milltimber, 108.
Molquilla, 200.
Monboddo, 67.
Moncoffer, 52.
Montrose, 148, 181.
Moray, 45.
Montauban, 69.
Muchal, II.

Muirskie, Maryculter, 179.
Murtle (Murthill), 59, 60, 107,

184.
Murtle, Barony of, 124.

— Mains of, 197.
Mylnebowy, 52.

70

Index of Places.

Newhall, Auchlunies, i88.

Newhills, i8i, 208.

New Machar, 208.

Nicholas, Church of St., Aber-
deen, 48, 59.

Nigg, 29, 207.

Ninian, Chantry of St., 48.

Norman Dykes, Peterculter,
no.

Norman Faughs, no.

— Well, no.
Northumberland, 7.

Old Aberdeen, 10, 130.

— Machar, 85.
Oldtown, Peterculter, 108.
Oruro, Bolivia, 75.
Otterburn, 7.
Ouchterdurris, 10.

Park, 73-75, 179, 180, 206.

— Bridge, 17.

— House, 36.
Parkhead, Maryculter, 179.
Paris, 83, 193, 195.
Perth, 3, 47.

Petbrechar (Petbrechare), 80,

81.
Peterculter, 39, 84, 107-151.

— Church, 83, I35-M4,
203.

Peter Well, Peterculter, 177.
Philorth, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 49.
Pinkie, Battle of, 51, 177.
I'itcaple, 59.
Pitfodels, 59, 107, 177, 178,

179, 185.
Pitfour, 180.
Pitsligo, 6.
Plady, 6.
Polwarth, 32.
Porthill, Aberdeen, 128.
Premnay, 120, 201.

Ranishii.i,, 124.

Rathen, 6, 116.

Rathven 85.

Red Beard's Well, Durris, 20.

Redmyres, 48,

Reid- Burnett Schools, Banchory,
68.

Rhodes, 158, 160, 161.

Robertson (Robertston), Peter-
culter, 124.

Rome, 194, 195.

Ross, Earldom of, 45.

Rothienorman, 62.

Rotterdam, 128.

Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, 13.

Saphock, 61, 139.
Saratoga, 68.
Schivas, 62.
Scone, 67.

Scot's College, Douai, 192.
Shannaburn, 24, 196, 200.
Sheddocksleys, 181.
Skellmuir Nether, Tarves, 199.
Skene, 29, 46, 209.

— Easter, 137.
Soutra, 137.
Spain, 193.

Spital Croft, Durris 19.
St. Andrews, 15, 25.

— Fergus, 32.

— Mary's College, Blairs,
189.

St. Paul's Chapel, Aberdeen,

Standing Stanes, Maryculter,

179.
Stobhall, Maryculter, 179.
Stonegavel, Peterculter, 40.

— Inn, 113.
Stoneywood, 130.
Strabrok, 22.

Strachan, 20, 47, 60, 67, 206.

Strathbogie, 45.

Strichen, 6.

Swanbister, Orkney, 184.

Swellhead, Maryculter, 209.

Talavera, Battle of, 183.
Tarves, 199.
Temple, 163.
Thankerton, 163.
Thunder Hole, Maryculter,
179.

Index of Places.

271

Tilburies (Tilbouries, Tilboury),

160, 205.
Tilburies, Easter, 185.
Tolquhon, 60.
Torphichen, 19, 157, 159, 162,

163, 177, 184, 199.
Torry, 198.

Trinity Chapel, Aberdeen, 205.
Tuliboy, 124.
Tulimalx)ythre, 115.
Tuliskeith, Maryculter, 185.
TuUiallan, Perthshire, 135.
Tulloch (Tillyoch), Peterculter,

124.
Tulloch, 163.
Tyrie, 6.

UoNY, 121.

Valladolid, 195.

Wardis, 196, 197.
Waterton, 128.
Waulkmill, Peterculter, 129.
Weal Water, Maryculter, 176.
Wealher Craig, Peterculter,

no.
Westertown, Maryculter, 196,

200.
Westside, Maryculter, 179.
Wettshaw, Maryculter, 179.
Whiteriggs, 48.
Wick, 56.
W'indsor, 13, 120.
Woodend, Durris, 23.

, Lillill(r>til.iii k fintti, T<. >l«r M>jcalr Ali«r4«i>

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